Tobago landowner sparks outrage by destroying multiple turtle eggs with artificial watercourse

Crushed turtle eggs were seen scattered along the Turtle Beach which were caused by the land owner who constructed an artificial watercourse

Wednesday, 1st May 2024

Crushed turtle eggs at Turtle Beach (left); Close-up of a leatherback turtle laying her eggs during Trinidad and Tobago's nesting season(right)

Trinidad and Tobago: The owner of the land at Turtle Beach in Tobago has sparked an outrage among the authorities and the general public after he constructed an artifical watercourse that destroyed a major turtle nesting site. According to a source, crushed turtle eggs were seen scattered along the beach shoreline which resulted in the Environmental Management Authority to initiate an investigation. The development came forward after a local posted a video on social media showing what appears to be landworks and crushed turtle eggs scattered along the sand at Turtle Beach. The EMA is asking anyone with pictures or videos of those responsible for the heartless act so that they can take proper action. As part of the investigation, several stakeholders also conducted a site visit on Tuesday to ascertain the extent of the damage done. While warning the ones who carried out the brutal act, the EMA said that leatherback turtles have been designated as one of the environmentally sensitive species and are therefore protected by the law, which is why this act is clearly a crime. The Authority added that habitat prevention is important for their nesting period between March and September which is why appropriate action will be taken against the ones who committed this act. An NGO based in Trinidad and Tobago, Fisherman and Friends of the Sea also came forward to speak up against this action. It said, “These are sea turtle eggs dug up on Turtle Beach, Tobago. We respect that a private landowner owns the land, but all our sea turtles are environmentally sensitive species.” “They have the highest legal protection in our country! No landowner should be allowed to bulldoze any beach,” further noted the FFOS. They urged the authorities to take immediate action and said that why is this nonsense being allowed and why is not the law being enforced with the harshest of penalties regardless of the fact that the landowner is a billionaire. They further noted that the turtle is being threatened by human degradation, and this should be stopped. It is to be noted that between the months of March and September, these magnificent creatures emerge from the water under the cover of darkness to lay their eggs at common nesting sites, namely Turtle Beach, Grafton Bay and Stone Haven Bay.