Plastic bags are killing Turtles

May 2004,
Several dive operators complained about the intolerable situation in the harbour of Curacao. The Curacao Diving Operators Association addressed their complains to the department of environment of the island Curacao (de milieudienst van het eilandgebied Curacao, Mr Urwin Sillé).

The action was triggered by the departments media release in which they report a stock-taking of all licenses of all the companies near the port area. They even memorised the importancy for the tourist divers.

Of course, the dive operators, and Reef Care Curacao are pleased to see that the department is working on the issue. Many tourist and divers can observe a steady stream of durt and garbage floating through the port exit. It is obvious that this is coming from the floating market of foreign boats.
No diver likes to file a "garbage dive " in his logbook.
Besides to the nutrition polution (killing the corals), many plastic bags are dumped. The turtles are fond of gelly fish, which are swapped with the plastic bags. That is a deadly mistake for the turtles.

The department was requisted to pay attention to this issue.
No action, nor feedback was reported since then.