“They were chopped to death”

Seven dead sea turtles were found at Braamspunt where sand diggings were recently resumed after a year of pause. Reports indicate, however, that the sand diggings are not the cause of death of these 7 sea turtles. A sandbank which emerged in the last couple of months triggered the diggings. The cause of the sea turtles’ death reportedly has nothing to do with the sand diggings taking place in the area, because signs of abuse and cuts were found on their bodies. Fishermen allegedly killed the animals which presumably were caught in fishing nets by accident. A delegation from Parliament had launched an investigation into the deaths of the sea turtles after environmental organizations and animal rights activists protested against the resumption of the sand diggings.

The report has not been completed yet and still has to be discussed internally by parliament, but the leader of the delegation, MP Melvin Bouva (NDP) shared several details from the preliminary reports with Times of Suriname: “The sea turtles were killed after they accidently were caught in fishing nets”, Bouva stated during a parliament session a few weeks earlier. Photographs and videos of the dead animals attracted attention and evoked criticism against the government for giving permission for the resumption of the sand diggings. “We can safely assume that the cause of death has nothing to do with the sand diggings”, said MP Bouva who added that protected animals were killed and that legislators must discuss certain measures that must be taken by the government in order to prevent fishermen from killing the protected animals. “It is a serious issue,” said MP Bouva.