312
The Biology of Sea Turtles, Vol. II
12.2 CONTEMPORARY USES AND RELATIONS WITH
SEA TURTLES
Consumptive use of sea turtles around the world has been documented recently
(Thorbjarnarson et al., 2000a). Although some of the facts of use are repeated and
expanded on here, the focus is on the links between culture and use, and on various
kinds of use, including nonconsumptive. Thorbjarnarson et al. (2000a) consider some
culture contexts of use. For example, they discuss the impacts of different religions
on consumption. The listing of cultural influences on turtle use (Thorbjarnarson
et al., 2000a), however, reflects the point made in Section 12.1.1: It is often easiest
to see the influences of other cultures. Meanwhile, Western culture has impacted on
contemporary use of sea turtles in two profound, and seemingly opposite, ways.
First, the expansion of Western capitalism has shaped sea turtle consumption; economies that might previously have used turtles for subsistence purposes now have
cash needs that may be met through selling sea turtles and their by-products. Second,
the separation of humans from nature in Western culture, and the veneration of
“charismatic megafauna,” has created a demand in the West for the complete protection of sea turtles and their relegation to tourist spectacle. Some of these issues
are discussed in more detail below.
12.2.1 D IRECTED T AKE
12.2.1.1 Turtle Meat
The list of countries using sea turtles for meat (Thorbjarnarson et al., 2000a) includes
the U.S. (Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia), the Atlantic coast of Central America, Ecuador, Peru, Madagascar, Seychelles,
India, Sri Lanka, Japan (fishing in other waters), Indonesia, Australia, Torres Strait,
and Papua New Guinea. To this list can be added Bangladesh (Islam, 2001), Thailand
(Aureggi et al., 1999), Liberia (Siakor et al., 2000), Egypt (Venizelos and Nada,
2000), Equatorial Guinea (Tomás et al., 1999), Guinea-Bissau (Fortes et al., 1998),
Cuba (Carrillo et al., 1999), Nicaragua (Nietschmann, 1973; 1979; Lagueux, 1998),
Costa Rica (Opay, 1998), Belize (Frazier, in press), Mexico (Nichols et al., 2000),
and several Caribbean islands (Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, British Virgin
Islands, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Haiti, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago,
and Turks and Caicos [Frazier, in press]). In some of these countries, use is illegal,
but nevertheless continues (e.g., even in the U.S., illegal use occurs [Addison, 1995]).
Most accounts of sea turtle use are without reference to why turtles are used
and what use means (beyond economic profit). There have been some studies of the
cultural importance of sea turtles to communities, however, and some of these are
described briefly here.
12.2.1.1.1 Nicaragua
The role that turtles play in the culture of the Miskito Indians of Nicaragua was
made famous by Nietschmann (1973; 1979). At the time of Nietschmann’s studies,
a Miskito fisherman’s ability to share green turtle meat among kin and friends was
a critical component of social relations: “Meat shared in this way satisfied mutual
1123 book.book Page 312 Thursday, November 14, 2002 11:50 AM
The Biology of Sea Turtles, Vol. II
12.2 CONTEMPORARY USES AND RELATIONS WITH
SEA TURTLES
Consumptive use of sea turtles around the world has been documented recently
(Thorbjarnarson et al., 2000a). Although some of the facts of use are repeated and
expanded on here, the focus is on the links between culture and use, and on various
kinds of use, including nonconsumptive. Thorbjarnarson et al. (2000a) consider some
culture contexts of use. For example, they discuss the impacts of different religions
on consumption. The listing of cultural influences on turtle use (Thorbjarnarson
et al., 2000a), however, reflects the point made in Section 12.1.1: It is often easiest
to see the influences of other cultures. Meanwhile, Western culture has impacted on
contemporary use of sea turtles in two profound, and seemingly opposite, ways.
First, the expansion of Western capitalism has shaped sea turtle consumption; economies that might previously have used turtles for subsistence purposes now have
cash needs that may be met through selling sea turtles and their by-products. Second,
the separation of humans from nature in Western culture, and the veneration of
“charismatic megafauna,” has created a demand in the West for the complete protection of sea turtles and their relegation to tourist spectacle. Some of these issues
are discussed in more detail below.
12.2.1 D IRECTED T AKE
12.2.1.1 Turtle Meat
The list of countries using sea turtles for meat (Thorbjarnarson et al., 2000a) includes
the U.S. (Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia), the Atlantic coast of Central America, Ecuador, Peru, Madagascar, Seychelles,
India, Sri Lanka, Japan (fishing in other waters), Indonesia, Australia, Torres Strait,
and Papua New Guinea. To this list can be added Bangladesh (Islam, 2001), Thailand
(Aureggi et al., 1999), Liberia (Siakor et al., 2000), Egypt (Venizelos and Nada,
2000), Equatorial Guinea (Tomás et al., 1999), Guinea-Bissau (Fortes et al., 1998),
Cuba (Carrillo et al., 1999), Nicaragua (Nietschmann, 1973; 1979; Lagueux, 1998),
Costa Rica (Opay, 1998), Belize (Frazier, in press), Mexico (Nichols et al., 2000),
and several Caribbean islands (Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, British Virgin
Islands, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Haiti, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago,
and Turks and Caicos [Frazier, in press]). In some of these countries, use is illegal,
but nevertheless continues (e.g., even in the U.S., illegal use occurs [Addison, 1995]).
Most accounts of sea turtle use are without reference to why turtles are used
and what use means (beyond economic profit). There have been some studies of the
cultural importance of sea turtles to communities, however, and some of these are
described briefly here.
12.2.1.1.1 Nicaragua
The role that turtles play in the culture of the Miskito Indians of Nicaragua was
made famous by Nietschmann (1973; 1979). At the time of Nietschmann’s studies,
a Miskito fisherman’s ability to share green turtle meat among kin and friends was
a critical component of social relations: “Meat shared in this way satisfied mutual
1123 book.book Page 312 Thursday, November 14, 2002 11:50 AM