Wildlife Crimes

Illegal jewellery and art making involves the unauthorised use of wildlife parts—such as shells, feathers, coral, tortoiseshell, or bones—in the creation and sale of decorative items, souvenirs, or cultural artifacts. Specific illegal practices include harvesting or collecting protected wildlife materials without required permits, crafting items from protected species or prohibited materials, unlawfully selling wildlife-based products, and exporting or importing wildlife-based items in violation of national laws or international agreements like CITES. Across the Caribbean, these activities frequently target species such as hawksbill turtles, black coral, queen conch, hummingbirds, and other protected wildlife, especially in areas where tourism and artisanal markets intersect.

The impacts of illegal jewellery and art making are significant, clearly intersecting all five CAR-WEN core values. Biodiversity conservation is undermined as vulnerable species are driven closer to extinction due to unsustainable exploitation. Animal welfare suffers as wildlife are targeted and killed for ornamental purposes, frequently involving methods causing unnecessary pain and distress. The illegal trade in wildlife-derived jewelry and art weakens the rule of law by normalising violations of wildlife regulations, complicating enforcement efforts. Human well-being is negatively affected as the integrity and sustainability of local tourism and artisanal industries are jeopardised, harming livelihoods dependent on sustainable and ethical resource use. Additionally, public health risks can arise, particularly when unregulated wildlife materials are introduced into international tourism markets, potentially facilitating the spread of pathogens or zoonotic diseases.

While international frameworks regulate the trade of wildlife-derived jewellery and art, effectively addressing illegal production and sale in the Caribbean region requires enhanced market oversight, targeted public awareness campaigns, improved enforcement capacity, and stronger coordination among conservation authorities, tourism stakeholders, and customs enforcement agencies, tailored to local ecological, economic, and cultural contexts.