(a) It is the intent of the Legislature of the United States Virgin Islands to contribute to the preservation of marine turtles in the Caribbean area, said turtles now being close to extinction.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to take, kill, possess, mutilate or in any way destroy any loggerhead, leatherback, hawksbill, ridley or green turtle or any other species of sea turtle, or take or possess any part thereof while such turtle is on the beaches of the territory at any time, or to take or possess any such turtle in the territorial waters during the months of May through September, inclusive, of each year and at such other times as the Commissioner may by rule and regulation prescribe. It shall be unlawful to import, export, trade, sell or in any way deal in sea turtles of any kind; provided, however, that the Commissioner may issue written permission to any licensed or publicly owned zoo or exhibitor of marine life to capture such turtles for purposes of live exhibition.
(c) No person may take, possess, disturb, mutilate, destroy, cause to be destroyed, sell, offer for sale, transfer, molest or harass any sea turtle nest or eggs at any time.
(d) Any person violating any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction therefor, be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred ($100) dollars nor more than six hundred ($600) dollars, or by imprisonment for a period not to exceed one (1) year, or by both such fine and imprisonment.