Contemporary Culture, Use, and Conservation of Sea Turtles
315
12.2.1.1.6 Papua New Guinea
Spring (1995) describes the cultural importance of turtles in Papua New Guinea,
manifested in various products of material culture, including bride-price items made
from shell, oral histories, and legends. Cultural rituals and traditions vary across the
islands, and some contribute to conservation, while others do not. For example, in
some clans, permission to hunt turtles must be sought from traditional authorities,
and turtles are used only for feasts, both traditional and nontraditional. Traditional
hunting techniques used by some clans limit the number of turtles caught. Certain
clans who believe themselves descended from turtles do not eat turtles. In contrast,
in one village with a strong cultural attachment to leatherbacks, every nesting female
found is slaughtered. Spring (1995) expresses some concern that traditional authority
is eroding, historically because of some colonial laws and practices, and more
contemporarily among younger generations influenced by Western culture and in
areas closer to urban centers. In more remote regions, traditions remain stronger.
12.2.1.1.7 The Caroline Islands
The cultural importance of turtle hunting by people in the Caroline Islands is
described by McCoy (1995): “The turtles contribute much to their overall cultural
stability, reinforcing their independence from the outside. The estimated maximum
contribution to the protein … is not nearly as important as this cultural role.” The
tradition of travel by dugout canoe, a subsistence economy, and taboos and ceremonies that surround the hunt historically provided a buffer on the number of turtles
taken. However, the introduction of a cash economy, government settlement programs that spread turtle fishing skills among islanders, and the erosion of traditional
taboos have led to increased pressure on turtles. As part of their maritime culture,
local people see turtles as part of the sea, the “provider for all things,” and thus
show little concern at evidence of decreasing populations. McCoy (1995) argues for
conservation programs to be undertaken with the people of the area firmly in mind.
12.2.1.1.8 Australia
In February 2002, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) posted a recipe
for green turtle on its website, as part of an aboriginal television program that
discussed traditional diets. The resulting debate that erupted on CTURTLE, an online discussion group, addressed many issues, including the ethics of the ABC in
posting a recipe based on an endangered species, the rights of aboriginal people to
hunt such species, and the legitimacy of claims to traditional culture (messages
archived at www.lists.ufl.edu/archives/cturtle.html). The debate reflects some of the
difficulties in dealing with issues of culture and use.
In Australia, aboriginal peoples are allowed to use sea turtles for noncommercial
purposes. Kowarsky (1995) found that the cultural basis of sea turtle use varies
between different groups and that, overall, the integration of aboriginals into modern
Australia reduced the number of turtles hunted. This finding contrasts with other
examples, where integration into Western economies led to increased exploitation.
In Australia, it may be the rejection of modernization by aboriginal people and their
return to traditional territories and lifestyles that ultimately increases turtle hunting
(Kowarsky, 1995).
1123 book.book Page 315 Thursday, November 14, 2002 11:50 AM
315
12.2.1.1.6 Papua New Guinea
Spring (1995) describes the cultural importance of turtles in Papua New Guinea,
manifested in various products of material culture, including bride-price items made
from shell, oral histories, and legends. Cultural rituals and traditions vary across the
islands, and some contribute to conservation, while others do not. For example, in
some clans, permission to hunt turtles must be sought from traditional authorities,
and turtles are used only for feasts, both traditional and nontraditional. Traditional
hunting techniques used by some clans limit the number of turtles caught. Certain
clans who believe themselves descended from turtles do not eat turtles. In contrast,
in one village with a strong cultural attachment to leatherbacks, every nesting female
found is slaughtered. Spring (1995) expresses some concern that traditional authority
is eroding, historically because of some colonial laws and practices, and more
contemporarily among younger generations influenced by Western culture and in
areas closer to urban centers. In more remote regions, traditions remain stronger.
12.2.1.1.7 The Caroline Islands
The cultural importance of turtle hunting by people in the Caroline Islands is
described by McCoy (1995): “The turtles contribute much to their overall cultural
stability, reinforcing their independence from the outside. The estimated maximum
contribution to the protein … is not nearly as important as this cultural role.” The
tradition of travel by dugout canoe, a subsistence economy, and taboos and ceremonies that surround the hunt historically provided a buffer on the number of turtles
taken. However, the introduction of a cash economy, government settlement programs that spread turtle fishing skills among islanders, and the erosion of traditional
taboos have led to increased pressure on turtles. As part of their maritime culture,
local people see turtles as part of the sea, the “provider for all things,” and thus
show little concern at evidence of decreasing populations. McCoy (1995) argues for
conservation programs to be undertaken with the people of the area firmly in mind.
12.2.1.1.8 Australia
In February 2002, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) posted a recipe
for green turtle on its website, as part of an aboriginal television program that
discussed traditional diets. The resulting debate that erupted on CTURTLE, an online discussion group, addressed many issues, including the ethics of the ABC in
posting a recipe based on an endangered species, the rights of aboriginal people to
hunt such species, and the legitimacy of claims to traditional culture (messages
archived at www.lists.ufl.edu/archives/cturtle.html). The debate reflects some of the
difficulties in dealing with issues of culture and use.
In Australia, aboriginal peoples are allowed to use sea turtles for noncommercial
purposes. Kowarsky (1995) found that the cultural basis of sea turtle use varies
between different groups and that, overall, the integration of aboriginals into modern
Australia reduced the number of turtles hunted. This finding contrasts with other
examples, where integration into Western economies led to increased exploitation.
In Australia, it may be the rejection of modernization by aboriginal people and their
return to traditional territories and lifestyles that ultimately increases turtle hunting
(Kowarsky, 1995).
1123 book.book Page 315 Thursday, November 14, 2002 11:50 AM