THE National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is to partner with community groups to protect turtle nesting sites across the island.

The revelation comes in the wake of reports that turtles were being killed for their meat and shells at Galleon Beach in St Elizabeth. That site is to form part of NEPA’s plan, which is to be implemented in early 2012.

Representatives of BREDS Treasure Beach Foundation in St Elizabeth — which brought to the public’s attention the poaching of turtles at Galleon Beach — had urged the environmental regulatory agency to take action and be more vigilant in the area.

The result was that NEPA put in place a ‘sting’ operation of sorts in what turned out to be a vain attempt to catch the culprits.

Now as the agency moves to implement its plan to protect turtles, which nest between July and November each year, it has admitted it is constrained by a lack of enforcement officers whose current number is 26.

Still, by partnering with community-based and non-governmental organisations, they hope to make a successful go at it.

“NEPA will continue to engage in awareness activities and, where possible, work with the media to increase awareness,” the agency said in a written response to Environment Watch queries.

While there have been cases of pers ons being arrested and charged for possession of turtle meat and shells, NEPA said it will be difficult to investigate the specific case of Galleon Beac h as they have no leads.

“The agency has, however, been working with the local community and police. A similar approach is being used for other areas where poaching is occurring. Given the nature of the breach, community involvement will be key to monitoring and reporting,” NEPA said.

Sandy Tatham, of BREDS Treasure Beach Foundation, had earlier urged the use of partnerships to solve the problem of poaching.

“A lot of the agencies do not get as involved as they need to get with their local groups (but) that is the key to succeeding,” she said. “We can’t do it alone; they can’t do it alone either. There has to be a combination of the two; the community and NEPA have to work together.”

Turtle meat and eggs are expensive commodities. The meat is held to possess aphrodisiac qualities while the shells are used to make jewellery.

But it is not only turtles that are being hunted. The American crocodile, too, falls victim because of its meat while other species, including the Black-billed and Yellow-billed parrots, are kept as pets.

To counter the problem — as in the case of the sea turtles — NEPA is stepping up is public education activities, which began with their 2007 Buyer Beware Campaign.

“NEPA is increasing awareness and environmental initiatives for core groups, such as the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) and the Jamaica Defence Force. There are also plans to strengthen the Game Warden Programme and to increase surveillance with the help of the ISCF,” the agency said.