Sea turtle demand in China threatens the survival of wild populations
Summary: Sea turtles are an important umbrella species in marine ecosystems. The populations of all five species of sea turtles in China have dropped sharply due to massive illegal trade and habitat loss. The fast-growing demand for sea turtle displays from Chinese aquariums and private individuals...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-06-01
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| Series: | iScience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004221004855 |
| _version_ | 1818443716348608512 |
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| author | Liu Lin Songhai Li Min Chen James F. Parham Haitao Shi |
| author_facet | Liu Lin Songhai Li Min Chen James F. Parham Haitao Shi |
| author_sort | Liu Lin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Summary: Sea turtles are an important umbrella species in marine ecosystems. The populations of all five species of sea turtles in China have dropped sharply due to massive illegal trade and habitat loss. The fast-growing demand for sea turtle displays from Chinese aquariums and private individuals has led to a large-scale illegal trade domestically and internationally. Captive sea turtles are also frequently kept in harsh environments with severe injuries and high mortality rates. Sea turtles have only recently been upgraded from level II to level I on the “List of Wildlife under Special State Protection”, this protection level has therefore not matched the real status of sea turtles over the past three decades. The additional collusion between the government and business corporations encourages illegal trade. We argue that the commercial use of sea turtles must be completely prohibited to guarantee their future survival in Chinese waters. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T19:04:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5e7f9a4b6d70435792549328d90df068 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2589-0042 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T19:04:28Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | iScience |
| spelling | doaj.art-5e7f9a4b6d70435792549328d90df0682022-12-21T22:50:53ZengElsevieriScience2589-00422021-06-01246102517Sea turtle demand in China threatens the survival of wild populationsLiu Lin0Songhai Li1Min Chen2James F. Parham3Haitao Shi4Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, ChinaMarine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, 572000, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Institute of Eco-Chongming, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200241, China; Yangtze Delta Estuarine Wetland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Ministry of Education & Shanghai Science and Technology Committee, Shanghai, 202162, ChinaDepartment of Geological Sciences, California State University, Fullerton, CA 92834, USAMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China; Corresponding authorSummary: Sea turtles are an important umbrella species in marine ecosystems. The populations of all five species of sea turtles in China have dropped sharply due to massive illegal trade and habitat loss. The fast-growing demand for sea turtle displays from Chinese aquariums and private individuals has led to a large-scale illegal trade domestically and internationally. Captive sea turtles are also frequently kept in harsh environments with severe injuries and high mortality rates. Sea turtles have only recently been upgraded from level II to level I on the “List of Wildlife under Special State Protection”, this protection level has therefore not matched the real status of sea turtles over the past three decades. The additional collusion between the government and business corporations encourages illegal trade. We argue that the commercial use of sea turtles must be completely prohibited to guarantee their future survival in Chinese waters.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004221004855Zoo animal legislationNature conservationAnimalsAnimal welfare |
| spellingShingle | Liu Lin Songhai Li Min Chen James F. Parham Haitao Shi Sea turtle demand in China threatens the survival of wild populations iScience Zoo animal legislation Nature conservation Animals Animal welfare |
| title | Sea turtle demand in China threatens the survival of wild populations |
| title_full | Sea turtle demand in China threatens the survival of wild populations |
| title_fullStr | Sea turtle demand in China threatens the survival of wild populations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sea turtle demand in China threatens the survival of wild populations |
| title_short | Sea turtle demand in China threatens the survival of wild populations |
| title_sort | sea turtle demand in china threatens the survival of wild populations |
| topic | Zoo animal legislation Nature conservation Animals Animal welfare |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004221004855 |
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