Commissioner for the Environment and Animal Welfare, Antonia Theodosiou, describes as "unacceptable" the behavior allegedly shown by employees of the Chloraka Community Council towards a sea turtle that was spotted in a coastal area of the community, as captured in a relevant video taken by a citizen and which saw the light of day.
In her statements to CNA, Ms. Theodosiou stated that the investigation into the incident is still ongoing, noting, however, that she watched the relevant video with particular attention. As she explained, in the event that a turtle washes up alive on the shore, even if it is in critical condition, the citizen must immediately notify the local authority, which seems to have been done in this particular case.
However, even if the turtle was already dead, "this is not the way to treat it," the Commissioner continued, saying that there are clear procedures that must be followed. As she stated, it is the responsibility of the local authority to receive the dead turtles and inform the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, so that an investigation can be carried out into the causes of their death, before their safe and sanitary burial.
Ms. Theodosiou noted that from time to time local authorities employees cite the weight of the turtles or the lack of knowledge about their proper handling, even mentioning that in the past there have been recorded incidents where dead turtles were carelessly buried on the beach itself. As she clarified, there are relevant instructions and protocols from the Department of Fisheries, which must be strictly implemented.
The Commissioner pointed out the need to train local authority staff, stressing that such incidents undermine efforts to protect marine life and are incompatible with the respect we owe to protected species.
In conclusion, he stated that in the event of a live turtle being spotted, the Fisheries Department must be notified immediately, which is responsible for receiving it and assessing whether it can be provided with care and saved.
Source: KYPE
