300 endangered sea turtles found dead in Mexico

Santa MARIA CoLoTEPEC: About 300 endangered sea turtles were found dead off the southern coast of Mexico, trapped in fishing nets, shortly after more than 100 dead turtles were recovered.

Fishermen in the southern state of Oaxaca discovered the turtles in the seaside community of Barra de Colotepec on Tuesday, said Heliodoro Diaz, the coordinator of the state’s civil protection agency.

Images captured by a Reuters videographer showed dozens of dead turtles, many of them already starting to decompose, caught in what appeared to be a net.

The olive ridley turtles, which Mexican authorities say are at risk of extinction, measure about 75cm in length and weigh about 45kg.

From May to September each year, they descend on various Mexican states along the Pacific Ocean to lay their eggs.

Mexico, which is home to six of the world’s seven species of sea turtles, has a permanent programme to protect the reptiles, including criminal penalties for those who kill them.

The office of the federal attorney for environmental protection (Profepa) said it would investigate the case.

Earlier this month, authorities said they were investigating the deaths of 113 sea turtles at risk of extinction – 102 olive ridley turtles, six hawksbills and five belonging to the green turtle species – at a sanctuary in the southern state of Chiapas.

Experts said asphyxiation, fish hooks or harmful algae could have killed the turtles, but the cause was still being investigated, Profepa said. — Reuters