Contemporary Culture, Use, and Conservation of Sea Turtles
323
experience for a variety of reasons (Smith, 2002). Prior to the establishment of
Tortuguero National Park, turtles were a food, economic, and cultural resource for
local people (Lefever, 1992). Although multiple values of turtles are coexisting in
Tortuguero, some residents (primarily older, original inhabitants) would like to use
limited numbers of turtles as a source of food (Peskin, 2002).
Turtles are also used to advertise or promote tourism destinations, as discussed
in Section 12.2.3.4.
12.2.3.2 Education
Turtles are charismatic megafauna, and as such are a flagship species. Public education regarding sea turtle issues may have wider spillover effects, because successful
conservation of sea turtle habitat, for example, has benefits for other less charismatic
species. This argument has been made with TEDs; although they were designed
specifically to release turtles from shrimp trawls, they also reduce general bycatch.
Education is also an objective of turtle-based tourism or volunteer activities, both
by the promoters and the by participants. For example, in Tortuguero, Costa Rica,
many individuals participating in the CCC’s volunteer research programs are specifically motivated by the educational opportunity of working with turtles in the
wild, and some are looking for materials they can use in their own teaching (Smith,
2002). Turtles are also kept in educational facilities; for example, Project Tartarugas
Marinhas (TAMAR) in Brazil keeps some turtles in various stages of captivity to
serve as direct educational tools (Marcovaldi and Marcovaldi, 1999).
12.2.3.3 Research
Research with wildlife often involves the use of the species itself. Normally, and
particularly in the case of endangered species, this use is nonconsumptive, i.e., the
species is not permanently removed from a population, and research protocols are
designed to minimize any long-term effects. Many of the contributors to this volume
use turtles in their research, and have careers based on such work.
12.2.3.4 Turtles as Symbols
Although little research has been done in this field, it appears that, for many people,
sea turtles are symbols of the marine environment, of environmentalism, and of the
historic struggles between humans and nonhuman beings. Turtles are the subjects
of material culture; songwriters, poets, painters, carvers, photographers, and sculptors use turtles as their subjects. The annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and
Conservation relies on attendees’ willingness to purchase such material products at
an auction as a means of fundraising.
Sea turtles appear on postage stamps (Figure 12.3). Stamps from 163 countries
can be found at http://www.2xtreme.net/nlinsley/. In this role, marine turtles are a
symbol of national identity and environmental consciousness. Sea turtles are also
used as marketing tools, and lend enviro-credibility to products (e.g., www.greenturtle.com). Some research has been done on the use of sea turtles to promote tourism
(Cosijn, 1995; Schofield et al., 2001). Although critical of using sea turtles to market
1123 book.book Page 323 Thursday, November 14, 2002 11:50 AM
323
experience for a variety of reasons (Smith, 2002). Prior to the establishment of
Tortuguero National Park, turtles were a food, economic, and cultural resource for
local people (Lefever, 1992). Although multiple values of turtles are coexisting in
Tortuguero, some residents (primarily older, original inhabitants) would like to use
limited numbers of turtles as a source of food (Peskin, 2002).
Turtles are also used to advertise or promote tourism destinations, as discussed
in Section 12.2.3.4.
12.2.3.2 Education
Turtles are charismatic megafauna, and as such are a flagship species. Public education regarding sea turtle issues may have wider spillover effects, because successful
conservation of sea turtle habitat, for example, has benefits for other less charismatic
species. This argument has been made with TEDs; although they were designed
specifically to release turtles from shrimp trawls, they also reduce general bycatch.
Education is also an objective of turtle-based tourism or volunteer activities, both
by the promoters and the by participants. For example, in Tortuguero, Costa Rica,
many individuals participating in the CCC’s volunteer research programs are specifically motivated by the educational opportunity of working with turtles in the
wild, and some are looking for materials they can use in their own teaching (Smith,
2002). Turtles are also kept in educational facilities; for example, Project Tartarugas
Marinhas (TAMAR) in Brazil keeps some turtles in various stages of captivity to
serve as direct educational tools (Marcovaldi and Marcovaldi, 1999).
12.2.3.3 Research
Research with wildlife often involves the use of the species itself. Normally, and
particularly in the case of endangered species, this use is nonconsumptive, i.e., the
species is not permanently removed from a population, and research protocols are
designed to minimize any long-term effects. Many of the contributors to this volume
use turtles in their research, and have careers based on such work.
12.2.3.4 Turtles as Symbols
Although little research has been done in this field, it appears that, for many people,
sea turtles are symbols of the marine environment, of environmentalism, and of the
historic struggles between humans and nonhuman beings. Turtles are the subjects
of material culture; songwriters, poets, painters, carvers, photographers, and sculptors use turtles as their subjects. The annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and
Conservation relies on attendees’ willingness to purchase such material products at
an auction as a means of fundraising.
Sea turtles appear on postage stamps (Figure 12.3). Stamps from 163 countries
can be found at http://www.2xtreme.net/nlinsley/. In this role, marine turtles are a
symbol of national identity and environmental consciousness. Sea turtles are also
used as marketing tools, and lend enviro-credibility to products (e.g., www.greenturtle.com). Some research has been done on the use of sea turtles to promote tourism
(Cosijn, 1995; Schofield et al., 2001). Although critical of using sea turtles to market
1123 book.book Page 323 Thursday, November 14, 2002 11:50 AM