All species of sea turtle in Latin America are threatened with extinction; leatherbacks, hawksbills and Kemp's ridleys are critically endangered, mainly due to many years of overexploitation, among other causes. Currently, extraction of their eggs, meat and shell can increase the risk to these species, which is why Latin American experts gathered last week to specify means for responsible use.
"The resource is very limited, therefore we urgently need a clear guide about the principles and criteria that must be fulfilled so that use does not compromise their survival," said Carlos Drews, Regional Coordinator for Marine Turtle Conservation in Latin America and the Caribbean for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), who moderated the workshop on this topic.
At present, coastal communities from nations such as Brazil, Colombia, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guyana, Mexico and Cuba receive benefits from extractive use programs or from the visits of tourists who go to witness the nesting turtles. However, neither sufficient scientific data nor management formulas exist to direct the most appropriate means of use that would benefit the turtles as well as the communities that make use of them.
Some 150 representatives from 18 countries met in Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica, one of six beaches in the world with mass nesting of olive ridleys, where an analysis of the variables to advance the development of a guide for the sound management of sea turtles has been initiated.
The experts reached the conclusion that in order to fine-tune the plans for use, more information is needed about issues such as the number of turtles coming to lay eggs on the beaches, if the species are increasing or diminishing, their foods, and their relationships with other living beings.
There must also be suitable legislation, community organization, broad participation in responsibilities as well as benefits, and economic profitability from their use. The importance of integrating biological, social and economic aspects and of collaboration between experts with different specialties was emphasized.
In dealing with threatened and fragile species, the search for the criteria for their responsible use is complex and controversial. Even though large gaps persist in the knowledge regarding the use of these threatened species, the meeting of the experts represented the launching of a key process that will orient research and policies for management by communities, governments and conservation entities such as WWF.
The workshop was held from 18 to 21 February with support from Costa Rica's Ministry of the Environment, WWF and the Network of Sea Turtle Specialists for Latin America (RETOMALA is its Spanish acronym), prior to the International Sea Turtle Symposium that will began on Monday, February 23rd in Costa Rica, where WWF will announced the results of its most recent study on economic profitability from the use and conservation of sea turtles, including non-damaging uses such as ecotourism.
"We expect to increase the probability that use will not harm the species, demonstrating significant income that coastal communities of the world earn from making use of living turtles in tourism and conservation projects. This will increase appreciation for these animals, which are worth more alive than dead," observed Carlos Drews of WWF.
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