TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending June 18, 2004

HR 3378 The Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2003

BRIEF

   The committee report on the bill establishes that “Marine sea turtles are air-breathing reptiles that are found in tropical and subtropical seas throughout the world” and have been in existence for over 100 million years.

   The species have a naturally long life, mature late in life and travel great distances primarily as a result of a reproductive cycle that requires them to return to the same nesting area each year after, in some cases, nearly world-wide roaming in the open ocean.

   The report noted that Sea turtles come in varied sizes shapes and colors and that they have excellent hearing at low frequencies.

   Sea turtles were abundant as recently as the 1800’s with some species exceeding more than one million turtles. There are now seven remaining species of marine turtles in the world. Six species–including green, hawksbill, Kemp's Ridley, leatherback, loggerhead and Olive Ridley–are found in U.S. waters. The seventh marine turtle species, the flatback, resides off the coast of Australia. There were more species but some have become extinct because of “foreign fishing practices, the destruction of nesting habitat, poaching for their eggs, meat and shells, marine debris and ocean pollution,” the report said.  US law protects the remaining turtles as endangered species. Inclusion as endangered dictates no international trade in the species.

   The report said “The Marine Turtle Conservation Act is modeled after the highly successful conservation funds established for African elephants, Asian elephants, rhinoceros, tigers, Great Apes and neotropical migratory birds.” Under the bill a Marine Turtle Conservation Fund would be established and the Secretary of the Interior would be authorized to finance approved projects to assist in the conservation and recovery of marine turtles in foreign waters. It is suggested that the Secretary would encourage grant applications to include anti-poaching and education of authorities to address illegal taking of the turtles.  The Committee hopes that the Secretary of the Interior will encourage grant applicants to include anti-poaching components and education in their proposals so that wildlife authorities in range states can better address illegal taking of marine sea turtles.. Under the terms of this legislation, all seven species of marine turtles would be eligible to receive grant money from the fund. The authorization would expire on September 30, 2009.

Sponsor: Representative Wayne T. Gilchrest (R-MD)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote.

Cost to the taxpayer: The bill authorizes $5 million yearly 2005 through 2009. The CBO estimates that the bill would spend $1 million in 2005, $4 million in 2006, $8 million in 2007, $6 million in 2008 and 5 million in 2009 to total $24 million. The $5 million dollar level is comparable to amounts authorized for other international conservation funds. ## All Rights Reserved. No reproduction or distribution without written permission from TheWeekInCongress.com