314
The Biology of Sea Turtles, Vol. II
in the culture of Tortuguero continues to evolve with the growth of ecotourism (see
Section 12.2.3.1).
In the Caribbean port city and provincial capital of Limon, Costa Rica, a sea
turtle fishery that licensed the capture of 1800 green turtles a year operated until
1999, when environmentalists in Costa Rica and the U.S. challenged the constitutional legitimacy of the harvest and won (Taft, 1999). The “cultural basis for eating
turtle” (Opay, 1998) in this area is recognized, and prior to the challenge, several
Costa Rican biologists described the fishery as “justified” for cultural reasons (Campbell, 1997). The petition against the harvest illustrates how values within a country
can clash. The conservation values held by the Costa Ricans petitioning against the
harvest were given precedence over the cultural and economic values of turtles to
Limon fishermen.
12.2.1.1.3 Mexico
The Seri (or Comcaac) of the Sonoran coast and islands of the Gulf of California
are “one of the last indigenous cultures in North America able to withstand total
integration into local European derived cultures” (Nabhan et al., 1999). Cultural
links between Seri culture and sea turtles are evident; turtles are not just food, but
“the symbolic foundation of their marine resource based culture” (Nabhan et al.,
1999). The importance of sea turtles manifests in material culture, including songs
and legends. With the introduction of laws preventing harvesting, the Seri have
had to restructure their use of marine resources. They now focus on other fishing
and supplement their livelihoods with products from “adjacent Mexican culture.”
The traditions of sea turtle harvesting are no longer passed on, and Nabhan et al.
(1999) point out that when elders pass on, “we can assume much information will
be lost.”
12.2.1.1.4 Venezuela
For the Wayuu of Venezuela, sea turtles are related to fertility, and consuming meat
and blood affects “masculine vitality.” Dreaming of turtles is also related to sexual
activity, and turtle craniums are often hung in fruit trees to encourage growth (Parra
et al., 2000). Parra et al. (2000) identify the need to understand these beliefs, so that
educational strategies to show people the “real valuation” of the resource can be
designed.
12.2.1.1.5 Indonesia
Suarez and Starbird (1996) examined the cultural context of leatherback hunting by
people living in the Kai Islands of Indonesia. They describe the traditions, rituals,
and beliefs (known as adat ) that guide the turtle hunt. Hunts are highly ritualized,
and under adat, meat is used for subsistence purposes and cannot be sold. As
population pressures grow and other subsistence resources are depleted, increased
fishing for subsistence rather than ritual purposes has resulted. Suarez and Starbird
(1996) believe increased fishing could be a sign of cultural erosion, and suggest
provision of alternative sources of protein to reduce the need for subsistence leatherback fishing.
1123 book.book Page 314 Thursday, November 14, 2002 11:50 AM
The Biology of Sea Turtles, Vol. II
in the culture of Tortuguero continues to evolve with the growth of ecotourism (see
Section 12.2.3.1).
In the Caribbean port city and provincial capital of Limon, Costa Rica, a sea
turtle fishery that licensed the capture of 1800 green turtles a year operated until
1999, when environmentalists in Costa Rica and the U.S. challenged the constitutional legitimacy of the harvest and won (Taft, 1999). The “cultural basis for eating
turtle” (Opay, 1998) in this area is recognized, and prior to the challenge, several
Costa Rican biologists described the fishery as “justified” for cultural reasons (Campbell, 1997). The petition against the harvest illustrates how values within a country
can clash. The conservation values held by the Costa Ricans petitioning against the
harvest were given precedence over the cultural and economic values of turtles to
Limon fishermen.
12.2.1.1.3 Mexico
The Seri (or Comcaac) of the Sonoran coast and islands of the Gulf of California
are “one of the last indigenous cultures in North America able to withstand total
integration into local European derived cultures” (Nabhan et al., 1999). Cultural
links between Seri culture and sea turtles are evident; turtles are not just food, but
“the symbolic foundation of their marine resource based culture” (Nabhan et al.,
1999). The importance of sea turtles manifests in material culture, including songs
and legends. With the introduction of laws preventing harvesting, the Seri have
had to restructure their use of marine resources. They now focus on other fishing
and supplement their livelihoods with products from “adjacent Mexican culture.”
The traditions of sea turtle harvesting are no longer passed on, and Nabhan et al.
(1999) point out that when elders pass on, “we can assume much information will
be lost.”
12.2.1.1.4 Venezuela
For the Wayuu of Venezuela, sea turtles are related to fertility, and consuming meat
and blood affects “masculine vitality.” Dreaming of turtles is also related to sexual
activity, and turtle craniums are often hung in fruit trees to encourage growth (Parra
et al., 2000). Parra et al. (2000) identify the need to understand these beliefs, so that
educational strategies to show people the “real valuation” of the resource can be
designed.
12.2.1.1.5 Indonesia
Suarez and Starbird (1996) examined the cultural context of leatherback hunting by
people living in the Kai Islands of Indonesia. They describe the traditions, rituals,
and beliefs (known as adat ) that guide the turtle hunt. Hunts are highly ritualized,
and under adat, meat is used for subsistence purposes and cannot be sold. As
population pressures grow and other subsistence resources are depleted, increased
fishing for subsistence rather than ritual purposes has resulted. Suarez and Starbird
(1996) believe increased fishing could be a sign of cultural erosion, and suggest
provision of alternative sources of protein to reduce the need for subsistence leatherback fishing.
1123 book.book Page 314 Thursday, November 14, 2002 11:50 AM