Maritime Justice: Protecting Mayotte’s Sea Turtles and Combatting Illegal Trade
In the quiet waters of Mayotte, protecting sea turtles is paramount. Recent court sentences underscore efforts against illegal exploitation.
On April 10th, the Mamoudzou judicial court handed down sentences to three individuals, imposing 18 months of suspended prison time and a €2,500 fine each for offenses related to the illegal removal of eggs from a protected species and the killing of a sea turtle, following their apprehension on April 7th at Papani Beach in Dzaoudzi.
This beach, a primary nesting site in Mayotte, was under surveillance by Sea Shepherd association members who reported the incident. Authorities caught one individual red-handed with a bag of turtle eggs, and they discovered a poached turtle nearby. The other two confessed after being arrested at their residences.
Mayotte, with approximately 135 nesting sites, hosts five of the world’s seven marine turtle species. Protecting these creatures remains a top priority for local authorities, who conduct regular patrols resulting in convictions. Notably, in February 2023, a person received a one-year prison sentence and was ordered to pay €1,000 in damages to four civil-suing associations.
Recent operations have uncovered a disturbing trend: the resale of a 50 kg turtle can fetch between €600 and €700, a significant sum for segments of the island’s population grappling with poverty.
