Bali police seize 87 endangered turtles
Associated Press, Bali | Fri, 11/19/2010 9:32 AM
Indonesian police have confiscated 87 endangered sea turtles from a fishing boat off the resort island of Bali.
Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hadiatmoko said Thursday the boat's skipper was arrested. The skipper told police the green turtles were caught in waters off Sulawesi island.
The reptiles have an average size of more than three feet (one meter) and can weigh up to 440 pounds (200 kilograms). Turtle meat is a delicacy in the predominantly Hindu province of Bali, where it each creature could be sold or us to $560.
The green turtle lives in tropical waters around the world, but its numbers have been steadily decreasing for several generations, largely due to human encroachment on the beaches where they lay their eggs.
