Havana/A Cuban couple trying to travel to the United States with 121 kilos of meat from protected marine species, including hawksbill turtle, crab and lobster, was detained this weekend at the Frank País International Airport in Holguín. Both were fined and placed at the disposal of the Police, reported this Monday Cubadebate.
The media stated that 65 kilos of hawksbill turtle meat were seized, a species “in critical danger of extinction”, whose international trade is prohibited by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. They also seized 42 kilos of crab dough and 4 kilos of lobster tail.
According to the authorities, the man involved is a “multiple repeat offender” in crimes against nature. However, for now the punishment is only a fine of 22,000 pesos. The woman, for her part, was charged with a fine of 10,000 pesos.
For Cubadebatethe punishments are short and urged to toughen the penalties in the face of an incident that “is just the tip of the iceberg of a traffic that causes incalculable damage to Cuban biodiversity.”
“It is just the tip of the iceberg of trafficking that causes incalculable damage to Cuban biodiversity”
The media points out that “the legal response must be proportional not only to the commercial value of the shipment, but also to the ecological value lost, combining the rigorous application of the Penal Code with a comprehensive strategy that attacks trafficking networks and educates about the real value of national biodiversity, which is the heritage of all Cubans and a global natural treasure.”
Likewise, he emphasizes that the sanctions against the couple, from Puerto Padre, in Las Tunas, “pale compared to the market value that these species would have illegally abroad, especially the precious and highly protected hawksbill turtle, an emblematic species whose capture and commercialization directly contribute to its disappearance.”
However, according to Cubadebatethe customs authorities evaluate, in addition to the fines, “the possibilities offered by the Penal Code for the significant damage caused, which could lead to more severe criminal cases for those detained,” although it is not specified which ones.
The hawksbill turtle is one of the 29 marine species – out of 108 in total in the country – that are in the “critically endangered” range of extinction, according to a study prepared by 30 Cuban scientists published last August. Worldwide, it is estimated that its population is barely between 57,000 and 83,000 individuals.
On the black market, this species is coveted because its shell is valued for its pattern and texture to create jewelry.
On the black market, this species is coveted because its shell is valued for its pattern and texture to create jewelry, combs, eyeglass frames, and luxury items. The price can exceed $100 per pound.
In addition to the hawksbill turtle, the document indicates that of the approximately 36,700 species cataloged in the country, 35% are in danger of extinction, and it is estimated that up to 75% of mammals could disappear. Plants are also suffering severely: 580 plant species are critically endangered, along with 16 amphibian species. Furthermore, 70% of these, of which there are 71 identified species (94% endemic) on the Island, are threatened.
The research also warns that the loss of biodiversity constitutes the main environmental problem in Cuba and is related to pollution, the use of unsustainable production practices, poaching, illegal trade and the introduction and spread of exotic and invasive species.
Regarding the profits generated by the illegal trafficking of marine species in the world, several non-governmental organizations estimate that it generates income of between 10,000 and 20,000 million dollars annually.
