A joint team from the Bali Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), the Bali Coastal and Marine Resources Management Agency (BPSPL) Denpasar, and a coalition of environmental organizations, including PROFAUNA, installed informational signs in Bali on April 14, 2020, to raise awareness about the ban on trading products made from hawksbill turtle shells. The signs were placed at Kumbasari Art Market and Badung Market.
This initiative is a collaboration between BKSDA, BPSPL, Bali Water Police (Polairud), and environmental organizations dedicated to turtle protection, such as Yayasan Penyu Indonesia (YPI), PROFAUNA Indonesia, Turtle Foundation, and Too RareToWear.
“The goal of these informational signs is to educate the public about the importance of not buying or using products made from turtles, especially hawksbill turtles, whose shells are often taken to create souvenirs or jewelry,” said Muhhamad Jayuli, spokesperson for the turtle protection coalition.
The decision to install these signs in Bali is based on findings from a previous PROFAUNA investigation, which revealed that Bali is a major hub for the trade of hawksbill turtle shell products. A survey conducted from June to September 2019 showed that out of 353 shops visited, 25 were selling products containing hawksbill turtle shells.
Sukawati emerged as a key location where these products are sold. Of the 22 shops visited there, 13 were offering hawksbill turtle shell products. In addition to Sukawati, similar products were also found in Denpasar, Dalung, and Ubud.
The prices of hawksbill turtle shell products ranged from IDR 15,000 for a simple ring to millions of rupiah for a hand fan.
“We appreciate the positive collaboration between the government and environmental organizations in the fight against turtle trade in Bali. I hope that in the future, stronger efforts will be made to enforce the law,” said Rosek Nursahid, Chairperson of PROFAUNA Indonesia.
Source: http://www.profauna.net/id/content/bksda-bali-bpspl-denpasar-dan-koalisi-organisasi-lingkungan-pasang-papan-informasi
