Cross Analysis Paper

RESEARCH PAPER NUMBER
x12 RESEARCH PAPER MNEMONIC
TURTLE RESEARCH PAPER NAME: Turtle Cases

DRAFT AUTHOR: Sandy Buffett (August 1996)

I. ABSTRACT

Many of the cases within the Trade and Environment Database look at the relationship between seafood consumption in the industrialized nations with the production and resulting environmental problems occurring in the developing world. In particular, the demand for shrimp has skyrocketed because of the shift in "healthy" dietary trends and the lowering commodity prices for this once exclusive delicacy. Turtle species have also declined due to consumption and fishing practices. With increased demand, both habitats and endangered species have been depleted for the seafood trade.

II. ISSUE BACKGROUND

The consumption of seafood has increased in the last decade in the United States and other industrialized nations due to the trend of cutting back in traditional protein sources, such as red meat. Shrimp, while once considered a luxury, can now be found on almost any menu and any grocery store in America.

Northern consumer demand for shrimp in recent years has reoriented several coastal areas of developing countries, particularly in Asia, towards the conversion of mangroves for shrimp aquaculture for export. Shrimp aquaculture clears mangrove forests to construct large brackish water ponds. In 1971, the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar) was signed to conserve global wetlands. Despite this, wetlands destruction continues.

With a repeated boom/bust cycle, the production of shrimp leaves previously abundant and diverse mangrove ecosystems for polluted, nonproductive, and abandoned wasteland. Some alternatives to this industry have been cited, such as the use of man-made tubs, which would prevent some pollution. Still, in countries with lax environmental regulation, this alternative, while better in terms of mangrove conservation, would still be suspect because of the vast quantities of polluted water that must be flushed out of the tubs and the final destination of such effluents.

While more and more shrimp are produced by aquaculture, shrimp fishing is still an important industry for many countries. The process of shrimp fishing in the ocean also has some environmental implications. Trawl nets, in the process of catching shrimp, can entangle endangered sea turtles. The National Marine Fisheries Service estimates that over 11,000 turtles drown in U.S. trawl nets each year. Earth Island Institute claims that the worlds largest shrimping fleets are killing over 150,000 turtles a year. In response to this, some nations are now requiring for certification of the use of devices which remediate the snaring of endangered turtles.

Another threat to sea turtles is the demand for turtle shell for the use in handicrafts. Until recently, Japan was importing about twenty tonnes each year. This trade in Japan is worth nearly $125 million dollars annually.

III. RELEVANT TED CASES

SHRIMP Shrimp and Sea Turtles case
This study examines a suit filed by the Earth Island Institute, a San Francisco-based environmnental organization, for protection of sea turtles. The organization forced the Departments of Commerce and States to ban shrimp imports from countries not using a turtle excluder device known as TED, which has been 97 percent effective in protecting sea turtles during shrimp fishing. The suit effectively required compliance with the Federal law requiring the ban of shrimp imports from countries who endanger sea turtles through the process of shrimp fishing.

THAISHMP Thai Shrimp Export case
This case highlights the trade of Thailands shrimp exports, predominantly to Japan and the U.S. The process through which shrimp is harvested in Thailand, that is, conversion of mangrove swamps, has caused severe environmental degradation and habitat loss. Thailand is the world's largest exporter of shrimp. MANGROVEMangrove Protection case
This case discusses the loss of mangrove habitat. By citing signatory status to Ramsar, the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance as Waterfowl Habitat, the author suggests that Japan and Vietnam are in noncompliance with the guideline of "wise use". Many wetlands in Vietnam have been converted into shrimp aquaculture farms to meet the high consumption demand of shrimp products by Japan.

HAWKSBILHawksbill Turtle case

The Hawksbill turtle is protected under CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. In 1990, five US conservation groups charged that Japan was in noncompliance with CITES because of the domestic craft industry (the "bekko" industry) which utilized the shell of the Hawksbill turtle. By 1991, the US Departments of Interior and Commerce determined this industry was endangering the survival of the turtle and threatened trade sanctions with Japan. Eventually, Japan complied with the demands.

GREENGreen Turtle Loss/ Qatar case

Another turtle case, GREEN analyzes the reasons for the endangerment of the green turtle species endemic to the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. This endangered Species has faced extinction on several fronts, mostly from man-made threats. The author highlights the situation in the Gulf state of Qatar. In Qatar, there is a cultural belief that turtle meat increases virility. The Islamic Shariat Law also weakens attempts at conservation of the species, allowing sustainable consumption of natural resources. The turtles also face entanglement in nets on the beach as well as the threat of oil spills.

Category SHRIMP THAISHMP MANGROVE HAWKSBIL GREEN
Environ Problem SPLS HABIT HABIT SPLS SPLS
Habitat OCEAN TROP TROP OCEAN OCEAN
Geo domain NAMER ASIA ASIA ATLANT MIDEAST
Product SHRIMP SHRIMP PRAWN CRAFT MEAT
Exporter and Importer MANY & USA THAI & JAPAN MANY & JAPAN MANY & JAPAN QATAR & MANY

IV. Policy Implications

Every case shares process-related species or habitat loss. Further, in all of these trade cases, the United States and Japan overwhelmingly contribute to the import demand. Thus, while the call for environmental awareness and protection often comes from the industrialized countries, Northern consumption patterns are in fact the root cause of species and habitat loss in these cases. Therefore, the policy recommendation flowing from this study urges a consumer awareness campaign on the environmental detriment caused by the consumption of seafood and urging change in the method of production, similar to the successful tuna/dolphin campaign. Further examination of international law, such as the Ramsar convention and CITES may also be useful in promoting sustainable production and resource use.

Further Info

Go to the The Mangrove Action Project.

Mother Jones, "Rainfo rest Shrimp" article

Jamieson, Cheryl L., "An Analysis of Municipal Wetland Laws and Their Relationship to the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar)." Pace Environmental Law Review 4 (1986): 177- 220.

National Research Council on the Conservation of Sea Turtles. Decline of the Sea Turtles: Causes and Prevention. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1990.

Lancaster, John. "Endangered Sea Turtle Seen Jeopardized by Japan." The Washington Post (January 19, 1991): A3.

Lavallee, Michael, "Thai Frozen Seafood Market," United States Foreign Commercial Service (30 August 1994).

Mallet, Victor, "Seafresh Sees ‘Miracle' in Lowly Shrimp Shells," Bangkok Post (15 August 1994).

Moyer, Jack T. "Trading in Turtles." World Press Review 39 (May, 1992): 45.

Platt, Anne E. Review of Wetlands in Danger: A World Conservation Atlas by the IUCN-World Conservation Union. Edited by Patrick Dugan Oxford University Press, New York, 1993. Review in World Watch 7/1 (January/February 1994): 37-38.

"Ramsar Meeting in Hokkaido to Debate Waterfowl Habitats." Kyodo New Service, May 26, 1993.

Reid, T.R. "Japan to End Imports of Endangered Turtle." The Washington Post (May 18, 1991): A17.

Rush, James. The Last Tree: Reclaiming the Environment in Tropical Asia. The Asia Society, New York, New York, 1991.

Supapohn Kanwerayotin. "Vietnam: CP To Run Experimental Shrimp Farm in Vietnam." Bangkok Post (December 22, 1992).

Timoshenko, Alexandre S. "Protection of Wetlands by International Law," Pace Environmental Law Review 5/2 (Spring 1988): 463-472.