Marine pollution: Raw sewage in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands has been released 

 directly into nearshore waters. While a regional treatment plant has just been completed in 

 Puerto' Rico, monitoring has not been initiated. Pesticides, heavy metals and PCB's have been 

 detected in turtles and eggs, but the effect is unknown. Marine turtles are at risk when 

 encountering an oil spill. Respiration, skin, blood chemistry and salt gland functions are 

 affected. 



In nearshore waters, hawksbills are periodically captured in the cooling water intakes of 

 industrial facilities. In addition, illegal use of explosives for fishing is a concern, especially off 

 the southeast coast of Puerto Rico. 



32 



