SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1978
5
FREEDOM FOR TURTLE
****
A LARGE SEA TURTLE, WEIGHING MORE THAN 300 LBS, WAS RELEASED SY OFFICERS OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IN MIRS SAY YESTERDAY (FRIDAY).
THE TURTLE, A LOGGERHEAD, WAS SEIZED BY OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT IN TAN LUNG CHAU MÄRKET ON MARCH 22 IN CONTRAVENTION OF THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE.
THE TURTLE WAS TAKEN FROM A HOLDING CENTRE ON DOUBLE ISLAND AND RELEASED ABOUT 20 KILOMETRES SOUTH IN MIRS BAY. WITH A SWIFT FLIP OF ITS FLIPPERS IT DIVED BELOW THE SURFACE TO FREEDOM.
MARINE BIOLOGISTS BELIEVED THE TURTLE WAS ABOUT 30 YEARS OLD AND POSSIBLY CAME FROM BREEDING GROUNDS IN EASTERN AUSTRALIA.
THE SEA TURTLES, OF WHICH
ACCORDING TO A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN, THE SEA TURTLES THERE ARE SEVEN SPECIES, ARE IN DANGER OF BECOMING EXTINCT.
+ALTHOUGH A TURTLE MAY LAY MORE THAN A THOUSAND EGGS IN A FREEDING SEASON, THIS DOES NOT OCCUR EVERY YEAR. AND YOUNG TURTLES SUFFER GREATLY FROM PREDATION BY MAMMALS, BIRDS, FISH, CRAES AND MAN. SOME LARGE TURTLES DISCOVERED RECENTLY HAVE BEEN DADLY INJURED EY SHARK BITES, HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT WHAT WAS COMMONLY KNOWN IN LUXURIOUS ITEMS AS TORTOISE SHELL, IN FACT CAME FROM THE LOGGERHEAD TURTLE. THE SAME TURTLE WAS POPULAR FOR TURTLE SOUP
A DELICACY IN RESTAURANTS.
THE TURTLES WERE FIRST PROTECTED UNDER THE WASHINGTON CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA MUD FLORA IN 1973 AND WERE INCLUDED IN THE HONG KONG ORDINANCE ON PROTECTION OF
NDANGERED SPECIES IN 1976. UNDER THIS ORDINANCE IT IS AN OFFENCE FOR ANYONE TO IMPORT, EXPORT OR BE IN POSSESSION OF ANY SEA TURTLE IT-CUT A LICENCE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES. THE MAXIMUM PENALTY I CONTRAVENTION OF THE ORDINANCE IS 5,000 FINE.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT FISHERMEN HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT IF TURTLES BECOME CAUGHT IN FISHING NETS, THEY "UST RELEASED IMMEDIATELY.
16