Mexico
Hundreds of sea turtles have died in fishing nets
Several dead sea turtles are wheeled away in a wheelbarrow at the Puerto Arista Beach Conservation Area. photo
© Gabriela Sanabria Santos/dpa
Residents in Puerto Arista in the Mexican state of Chiapas have been discovering dead sea turtles on the beach for several weeks – including specimens of the endangered species.
Hundreds of dead sea turtles have been found on a beach in southern Mexico in the last two months. According to local residents, there are indications that they got caught in fishing nets and died. The animals washed ashore in Puerto Arista, Chiapas state.
“Until last week we counted 338 dead turtles, which is an unusually high number,” said a resident of the German Press Agency who was involved in burying dead animals on the beach. According to media reports, the National Commission for Conservation Areas confirmed indications of the use of fishing nets, hooks and fishing gear, which are said to have led to the deaths of the animals.
Every year thousands of sea turtles arrive at Puerto Arista’s beach sanctuary to lay their eggs. Specimens of the endangered species hawksbill and olive ridley turtles were among the animals that died. According to residents, some of the animals had been cut open to remove the eggs.