Recovery of Key Species

Geographical location:

Latin America/Caribbean > Caribbean > Cuba

Summary

The project aims to eliminate threats to the Caribbean hawksbill turtle in Cuba, in the context of a Caribbean-wide recovery effort. Led by WWF Canada, work will focus on lobbying the Cuban government and working in partnership with other stakeholders.

Background

Once abundant in Caribbean waters, marine turtles have been hunted to the brink of extinction for their beautiful shell, meat and eggs. Despite the fact that commercial trade is forbidden under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), local harvesting and illegal trade persists. A Caribbean-wide conservation plan is needed to address the multiple threats facing this highly migratory species. Various local efforts to protect eggs, juveniles and adults have had limited effect in recent years, offering hope that these graceful creatures can be protected from extinction.

Cuba has previously submitted a proposal to CITES to sell the stockpile of hawksbill shells acquired through its legal turtle harvest over the last 10 years. WWF has strongly advocated (and so far, successfully) against the resumption of international trade in any species until certain criteria can be met: the species in question has sufficiently recovered to sustain trade; the relevant governments have sufficient capacity and commitment to enable enforcement and implementation of national and international laws; other populations will not be put at risk; and that such trade will not negatively affect the recovery of populations to fulfil their ecological roles, or maintain their demographic health and genetic diversity.

Cuban attempts to obtain permission to trade shells legally under CITES have been unsuccessful. WWF is maintaining a close dialogue with the Cuban government through its field office in Havana, and is exploring alternatives to the marine turtle harvest with local scientists, including a study of the nutritional and cultural value of the turtles. WWF is also pushing for regional cooperation on hawksbill conservation and management. A regional approach is required due to the nature of hawksbill migrations that encompass the jurisdictional waters of several nations, and of genetically distinct stocks that mix at key feeding sites in the Caribbean.

WWF is tackling ‘turning points’ for hawksbill recovery in Cuba namely: ending the harvest of 500 turtles a year, which feeds a growing stockpile of shell now totalling 8,000kg, and the decommissioning of the stockpile itself, which feeds Cuba’s interest in downlisting the species for the purpose of selling the shell to Japan. WWF has established strong relationships and open dialogue with all the players and is pursuing a win-win outcome.

Objectives

Secure protection for the hawksbill turtle, eliminating threats to its survival and bring about a full halt to the harvest of the species through:
- A Caribbean-wide conservation plan to address the multiple threats facing the species.
- Protection for Cuba’s nesting beaches and the coral reefs and seagrass beds where turtles feed.

Solution

Success hinges on 4 linked actions:
- Investment in viable alternatives to the harvest and consumption of turtles in the 2 local communities where the harvest occurs.
- Support for the agencies that currently manage the harvest so they can dedicate their expertise to turtle research and recovery.
- An appropriate and politically acceptable ‘compensation’ package for the stockpile so that it does not provoke further downlisting proposals.
- Leveraging economic benefit from turtle conservation through ecotourism since, as a recent WWF study clearly shows, turtles are worth more alive than dead.

WWF’s work to conserve key marine and coastal habitats, including areas such as Jardines de la Reina and Los Canarreos archipelago that are favoured nesting and foraging habitats for hawksbill turtles, is also essential for the recovery of these critically endangered ‘pilgrims of the sea’.

There are currently strong indications that a solution might be reached if WWF Canada continues its efforts in coordination and partnership with WWF Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) and WWF’s Species Programme. This project will support both LAC and Species in their efforts to permanently halt the harvest of hawksbill turtles and provide adequate alternatives to the Cuban people, emphasizing lobbying the Cuban government to stop the harvest and offering a support package to leverage the benefits of this conservation step.

Relevant local partners will be the Ministry of Fisheries, the Center for Fisheries Research, the Center for Marine Research of the University of Havana and the Ministry of Environment.