Green Turtle in Persian Gulf (GREEN)

           CASE NUMBER:             30 
           CASE MNEMONIC:         GREEN
           CASE NAME:             Green Turtle Loss in Persian Gulf

A.         IDENTIFICATION
1.         The Issue
      One of the most endangered species in the world today is the
green turtle that inhabits the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. 
Although universally acknowledged as an endangered species, the
green turtle is only now beginning to be granted the protection
that it must have in order to avoid extinction.   The dangers that
the green turtle faces are numerous.  Many of the dangers are
natural, such as predators.  The gravest threats to the green
turtles, however, are man made.  One of these threats is oil
spills, which was highlighted by the massive dumping of Kuwait's
oil into the Persian Gulf by Iraq in 1991 during the Gulf War. 
More pertinent to this case, however, is the continued capture and
sale of these rare turtles.  Nowhere is this more evident than in
the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar.
2.         Description
      Like other Persian Gulf states, Qatar acknowledges the green
turtle is an endangered species.  One Qatari law prohibits the
capturing of green turtles and the gathering of turtle eggs. 
Despite this law, the sale of green turtles occurs quite frequently
at the Doha fish market in Qatar.  This is because the green
turtle's meat is edible and among the Qatar people there is a
belief that eating the meat of the turtle makes them strong and
virile.  Not only are turtles sold by fisherman in Doha, but in
areas that are not protected the turtles are still slaughtered for
their meat.  The same people also collect green turtle eggs and eat
them.
      The problem is exacerbated by the fact that fishermen from
several countries seek the turtle in a variety of international
jurisdictions.  For example, many of the green turtles caught by
Qatari fisherman are captured in the Persian Gulf, an international
waterway.  According to an informed Omani source, Qatari fisherman
also fish in the territorial waters of Saudi Arabia, Oman, the
United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.  Iran also makes claims on some
islands in the Persian Gulf and is building up military
capabilities on others under its jurisdiction.
      A second dilemma the turtles face is from fishing nets.  When
a turtle is caught in a fisherman's net, rather than being released
by the fisherman, it will usually end up being sold at the market. 
The green turtle is also frequently caught in shrimp trawls.  
Khalid al-Mulla, director of the Qatar National Museum, attributed
these actions to "uneducated people who do not know the
implications of their actions".
      The dangers caused by fishing nets are more than just the
incidental capture.  For generations fisherman have laid their nets
out on the beach to dry.  Frequently these nets will be left out
for long periods of time.  Green turtles, especially young ones who
are hatched on the beach, tend to crawl into these outstretched
nets and get entangled.  The turtles then die under the heat of the
sun.
      The threat of extinction is real.  Female turtles leave the
sea only about once every three or four years to lay eggs.  Of the
3,000 eggs a female will produce during this period, estimates are
that only one will survive to maturity.  The rest will fall victim
to natural occurrences and predators and, of course, to humans. 
 Although information on the green turtle is very incomplete,
scientists estimate a female turtle will reproduce from the age of
around 30-40 up until 70-100.  The female will also return to the
beach where she was born to lay her eggs.
      The news is not all grim.  Steps have been taken by some Gulf
states, especially Saudi Arabia, to protect and preserve the green
turtle.  The Saudi NCWCD (National Commission for Wildlife
Conservation and Development) has been working with the EU
(European Union) to establish protected wildlife sanctuaries in the
Persian Gulf not just for the green turtle but for many species of
birds as well.  The Saudis have declared several uninhabited
islands as sanctuaries including Ganah, Karan, Jurayt, Kurayn and
Harqus.  Other conservation efforts include tagging turtles to
monitor their life cycles and behaviors.  They are also working
with the other Gulf states (including Qatar) through the GCC (Gulf
Cooperation Council) to set up a database to coordinate
conservation information and activities.
      Unfortunately, Qatar is woefully negligent in its
conservation
activities.  Its laws against the capture and sale of green
turtles, as well as restrictions against leaving nets out to dry,
are seldom enforced.   The secretary general of Qatar's Environment
Protection Committee (EPC), Abdulaziz al-Midfa, however, has called
for enforcement of Qatar's environmental laws.  He has asked the
public to report violators and also admits that the EPC is still
trying to create safe zones for endangered species.   
3.         Related Cases
      Keyword Clusters            
      (1): Trade Product                = MEAT
      (2): Bio-geography                = OCEAN
      (3): Environmental Problem        = Species Loss Sea [SPLS]
4.         Draft Author:  Michael Poaletta
B.         LEGAL Clusters
5.         Discourse and Status:  AGRee and INPROGress
6.         Forum and Scope:  QATAR and UNILATeral
      Qatar must be mindful of trans-border problems in sharing the
Persian Gulf's resources, such as turtles, with other countries of
the Persian Gulf.
7.         Decision Breadth:  1 (Qatar)
8.         Legal Standing:  LAW
      There are laws in all the related countries concerned
protecting the green turtles.
C.         GEOGRAPHIC Clusters
9.         Geographic Locations
      a.   Geographic Domain : MIDEAST
      b.   Geographic Site   : Persian Gulf [PGULF]
      c.   Geographic Impact : QATAR
10.        Sub-National Factors:  NO
11.        Type of Habitat:  OCEAN
D.         TRADE Clusters
12.        Type of Measure:  Regulatory Standard [REGSTD]
      The proposed rules would create an outright ban on the
capture
and sale of green turtles as well as a ban on leaving nets on
beaches to dry.  As previously stated, most states acknowledge the
green turtle as an endangered species and even Qatar has laws
protecting the turtles.  However, implementation of safe habitats,
as well as enforcing existing laws, is the key.
13.        Direct vs. Indirect Impacts:  INDirect
14.        Relation of Measure to Environmental Impact
      a.   Directly Related       : YES  TURTLE
      b.   Indirectly Related     : NO
      c.   Not Related            : NO
      d.   Process Related        : YES  Species Loss Sea [SPLS]
      Turtles are in danger in many of the world's oceans and seas
(see HAWKSBIL and SHRIMP cases).
15.        Trade Product Identification:  MEAT
16.        Economic Data
17.        Impact of Measure on Trade Competitiveness:  HIGH
18.        Industry Sector:  FOOD
19.        Exporter and Importer:  QATAR and MANY
E.         ENVIRONMENT Clusters
20.        Environmental Problem Type:  Species Loss Sea [SPLS]
21.        Name, Type, and Diversity of Species 
           Name:             Green Turtle
           Type:             Animal/Vertibrate/Reptile
           Diversity:        NA
22.        Impact and Effect:  HIGH and SCALE
      The Green turtle will become extinct without protection.
23.        Urgency and Lifetime:  LONG and 100 years
      The lack of scientific data makes a truly accurate prediction
of the turtle's lifespan impossible.  The animal spends nearly its
entire life in the water.  Male green turtles never leave the ocean
for the land and females only go ashore to lay eggs.  Scientists
estimate that females can reproduce up until they are 100 years old
so the average turtle lifespan is significantly longer than 100
years.  Research into the turtle's reproductive habits and the
turtles life cycles has begun in the Gulf.
24.        Substitutes:  LIKE products 
VI.        OTHER Factors
25.        Culture:  YES
      The hunting of turtles has been around for probably more than
a millennia and holds a special place in some cultures.  The eating
of eggs is said to improve one's health in many ways and is highly
sought for these medicinal properties (see RHINO case).  Some contend that Sharia law permit
the taking of the turtle, contrary to government law.  Islamic
legal authorities in Qatar note that man is permitted to use
nature's resources as long as he does not abuse them and returns
them to future generations in unimpaired condition.  Such nebulous
and unenlightened statements from Islamic legal authorities do not
benefit the green turtle, which still stands on the brink of
extinction.
26.        Trans-Border:  YES
      The problem is trans-border because the domain of the turtle
crosses into waters shared by other countries of the Persian Gulf.
27.        Rights:  NO
28.        Relevant Literature
"EC to Fund Wildlife Sanctuary in Jubail."  Saudi Gazette (July 
      6, 1993).
"Green Turtles in Oman -- An Endangered Species."  Times of Oman
      (July 4, 1993).
"Gulf Oil Spill: Life Creeps Back."  Saudi Gazette (November 2, 
      1992).
"Gulf Sea Turtles, Dugongs Face Threat."  Gulf Times (January 
      30, 1992).
"Marine Habitat and Wildlife Sanctuary for Gulf Region."  Rapid  
      (May 7, 1993).
"Meeting Recommends New Gulf Environmental Protection," Arab 
      News (November 18, 1992).
National Research Council on the Conservation of Sea Turtles. 
      Decline of the Sea Turtles: Causes and Prevention. 
      Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1990.
"Saudi Arabia Starts Research on Sea Turtles."  Reuters (May 31,
      1986).
"Saudi Protects Gulf's Turtles."  Arab News (November 9, 1991).
"Saudi Wildlife Commission plans protected Marine Areas."  Riyadh
      Daily (October 23, 1991).
"Turtles Face Breeding Catastrophe as Gulf Oil Slick cuts off 
      Nesting Sites."  Sunday Times (February 17, 1991).
"Work Starts on Phase Two of EC Backed Wildlife Sanctuary North 
      of Jubail."  Middle East Economic Digest (May 15, 1992).

                                References


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