On the Indonesian island of
Sangalaki, Borneo Divers pays the
local turtle egg collector to leave
the eggs in the sand to hatch
instead of digging them up to be
sold as aphrodisiacs.
But, according to Indonesian news sources, Derawan Dive Resort,
which dives Sangalaki, traps protected green sea turtles to serve as
"special" meals to visiting divers. Villagers on Derawan Island, who
are paid by conservation agencies to raise hatchling sea turtles for
eventual release, have observed resort personnel trapping and
slaughtering sea turtles whenever divers arrive at the island. The
resort apparently hosts 25-30 divers a month, which has led to
speculation that at least 300 turtles, many of them semi-tame
hatchlings recently released near the beach, have already ended up
on diver's plates.
Governmental authorities have reportedly written the resort to
let them know that consumption of turtle meat is prohibited.