US BANS SHRIMP IMPORTS OVER CONCERNS FOR TURTLES
On 6 March, the US State Department announced that it would bar some shrimp imports from Honduras and Venezuela, saying that their exports do not meet US requirements. US law requires countries to use sea turtle "excluder devices" to prevent turtles from drowning in shrimp trawls, or to use other turtle protection programmes or show that their fishing waters do not pose a risk to turtles. Shrimp harvested by "artisanal" and other methods may still be imported. The US said it hopes that the ban against shrimp imports from the two countries will only be temporary, and added that it might send teams to confirm that adequate measures have been taken to protect sea turtles. A WTO panel upheld a US ban on shrimp imports from a group of four Asian countries in 2001 (see BRIDGES Weekly, 23 October 2001).
The harmful effect of fishing on sea turtles made headlines when the leatherback sea turtle -- one of the oldest and widest-ranging marine animals -- was found to be under threat of extinction. Amongst other factors, these turtles are caught by gill nets and long-lines used for fishing tuna and swordfish. The leatherback turtles, which have existed for the last 100 million years, could become extinct within the next 10 to 20 years. In response to this threat, conservationists have begun to put pressure on the international fish markets through consumer information campaigns.
"Turtle hurtles towards extinction," GUARDIAN, 7 March 2003; "US raps Venezuela, Honduras for harming sea turtles," REUTERS, 10 March 2003.