[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 14, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E83]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




THE INTRODUCTION OF THE MARINE TURTLE CONSERVATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT 
                        OF 2009: JANUARY 9, 2009

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                        HON. HENRY E. BROWN, JR.

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 14, 2009

  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I am today pleased to 
introduce the Marine Turtle Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2009.
  There are 7 species of marine turtles which were once abundant 
throughout the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Sadly, 6 of those 
species including the Green turtle, the hawksbill, the Kemp's ridley, 
the leatherback, the loggerhead and the Olive ridley, have experienced 
tremendous over-exploitation and they are now listed as critically 
endangered under our Endangered Species Act. In fact, only the flatback 
turtle which lives in the inshore waters of Australia has managed to 
maintain a healthy population.
  While there are many reasons for the dramatic decline in marine 
turtle population numbers, the leading factors include foreign fishing 
practices, the destruction of essential nesting habitat, massive 
poaching of turtle eggs, meat and shells, the degradation of grass beds 
and coral reefs, light pollution from onshore development and the 
dumping of tons of plastic products into our oceans.
  In response to this crisis, the Congress enacted the Marine Turtle 
Conservation Act of 2004 which I strongly supported. While this law 
authorized up to $20 million in Federal funds over the past 4 fiscal 
years, only $2.2 million has been appropriated to finance worthwhile 
conservation projects. Despite these funding limitations, the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service has leveraged nearly $4 million in private 
matching funds and together this money has funded 78 meritorious 
conservation projects in more than 60 countries. While more than 200 
grant proposals have been submitted, sadly, the Service has only 
awarded grants to less than 40 percent of the eligible recipients.
  Nevertheless, a number of extraordinary projects have been funded. 
These included a project to assist loggerhead turtles in Oman which has 
the largest nesting population of this species in the world; a project 
to protect leatherback turtles at their 4 primary nesting beaches in 
Mexico and a project to assist the highly depleted Chiriqui Beach 
hawksbill nesting population in Panama.
  Madam Speaker, marine turtles have been a vital component of our 
ocean ecosystems for more than 100 million years. They have long 
symbolized longevity, fertility and strength. We are proud of the fact 
that populations of loggerhead sea turtles nest on our beaches in South 
Carolina where they are highly protected.
  Like canaries in a coal mine, declining populations of marine sea 
turtles are a bellwether species for the health of the world's oceans. 
The Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2004 sent a powerful message of 
the international community that the United States was willing to take 
proactive conservation efforts to save these flagship species from 
extinction. It is essential that this law which has yet to reach its 
full potential be reauthorized beyond this fiscal year.
  The legislation I am introducing today would extend the authorization 
of appropriations for the Marine Turtle Conservation Fund until 
September 30, 2014. Despite severe funding limitations, this law has 
conclusively demonstrated that it is an effective and essential 
lifeline to marine turtle populations throughout the world. We should 
not allow any of these 6 species of marine turtles to disappear during 
our lifetime.
  I urge early consideration of the Marine Turtle Conservation 
Reauthorization Act of 2009.

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