1.4. Protection of Marine Turtles at the International level

1. The African Convention for the conservation of nature and natural resources
2. Convention on international trade of endangered wild fauna and flora species("CITES")
3. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
4. Convention on the Conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats
5. EEC Directive on the conservation of natural habitats and wild flora and fauna
6. Convention for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution (Barcelona Convention), 1976 - Protocol concerning Mediterranean Specially Protected Areas (Geneva, 1982)

1. The African Convention for the conservation of nature and natural resources, signed at Algiers on September 16, 1968.

This text includes an annex listing the species that the parties have to protect. The species under Class A have to be fully protected by the Contracting States. Therefore, hunting, slaughtering, capture or collecting of this species shall be forbidden. Exceptions may be allowed only for reasons of national interest or for scientific purpose. All marine turtles species are listed under Class A, and therefore have to be fully protected by the Parties. The Mediterranean riparian countries which at present are parties to the convention are Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia.

2. Convention on international trade of endangered wild fauna and flora species, signed on March 3, 1973. ("CITES")

This convention is better-known under its English acronym, "CITES". All species of marine turtles present in the Mediterranean sea are listed in Annex I of the, and their international trade is consequently forbidden. The Mediterranean Coastal States, parties to "CITES" are: Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Malta, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Tunisia and Morocco.

3. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, signed at Bonn, June 23, 1979.

Annex I to this Convention list the migratory species threatened by extinction and of which any form of collecting must be strictly forbidden. Moreover, the Parties shall endeavor to take the measures for the conservation of these species' habitants. Annex II list migratory species for which the States that lie in their area of distribution should make every effort in order to enter into agreements for their protection and management. The Mediterranean riparian countries to the Bonn Convention are: Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Israel, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco. The European Community is also a party as such.

4. Convention on the Conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats, signed at Bern on September 19, 1979.

The parties to this Convention have the obligation to protect species listed in the annexes as well as their habitant. Annex II is a list of the animal species which conservation has to be ensured by the parties, which shall forbid all forms of capturing, detention, intentional killing as well as the intentional deterioration or destruction of this animals sites of reproduction and resting areas. Annex III includes the animal species that the Parties shall protect by regulating their exploitation. All five marine turtles which may be found in the Mediterranean are listed in Annex II. Therefore, they must be fully protected by the Parties. The Mediterranean Coastal States parties to the Bern Convention are: Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Malta and Cyprus. The European Community is also party to the Convention as such. It is to note that although the Convention was initially concluded between Member States of the Council of Europe, the Convention is open for signature by non-European States. Tunisia and Morocco, for instance, have been invited by the Committee of Ministers of the European Council to adhere to the Convention.

5. EEC Directive on the conservation of natural habitats and wild flora and fauna (Directive 9243 of May 21, 1992).

Five Mediterranean species of marine turtles are listed in Annex IV as species of community interest for which strict protection is required. Caretta caretta, the only species nesting on the beach of a member state of EEC, is also listed in Annex II as a species whose protection requires to designate special conservation areas. These areas shall be established within twelve years from the date of the notification of the guideline. They will be integrated into a network called "Natura 2000". Loggerhead is also listed as a priority species. Mediterranean riparian countries which are members to the ECC are France, Greece, Italy and Spain.

6. Convention for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution (Barcelona Convention), 1976 - Protocol concerning Mediterranean Specially Protected Areas (Geneva, 1982).

Within the framework of the Barcelona Convention, the Geneva Protocol is the main instrument dealing with the conservation of wildness. The Contracting Parties to this Protocol engage themselves to take all appropriate measures for protecting marine and coastal areas which are important for the safeguard of natural resources and natural sites of the Mediterranean Sea Area. Marine turtles have been recognized as species whose safeguard is a priority within the framework of the Convention: in 1985, at their fourth ordinary meeting, the Contracting parties adopted a declaration on the targets to be achieved as a matter of priority in the decade 1986-1995, referred to as the Genoa Declaration: among these objectives, there is the "protection of the endangered marine species (e.g. monk seal and Mediterranean sea turtles)". Following the Genoa declaration, an Action Plan for the conservation of Mediterranean marine turtles was adopted within the framework of the Convention; this Action Plan represent a global strategy for the conservation of the species, providing for a series of marine turtles protection and management measures. 20 Mediterranean countries are at present Parties to the Convention, namely. Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Croatia, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey. The European Community is also a part to the Convention as such.

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