Contemporary Culture, Use, and Conservation of Sea Turtles
327
Turtle Conservation cited “the use of sea turtles as food by people who live where
sea turtles are found” and “differing attitudes toward conservation in different countries” as factors contributing to sea turtle decline (Bjorndal, 1981). The 1979 meeting
did make a concession to use, when it was “a traditional way of obtaining food
practiced by aboriginal people who are not yet part of a cash economy or technological society” (Bjorndal, 1981). As the discussion of key terms in Section 12.1.4
suggests, limiting use of marine turtles along these lines, where culture and economy
are static, is problematic. Nevertheless, many marine turtle experts support such
limits on use (Campbell, 2000).
These 1979 sentiments reflect the dominant culture of conservation of the time,
one that relied on a traditional approach via the national park model. (A later manual
on conservation techniques recommends that poachers be kept away from nesting
beaches by patrolling “with assistance from military organizations, conservation
officials and interested amateurs” [Pritchard, 1983].) Early proponents of local use
existed within the MTSG, however, and Hughes (1979) argued that marine turtles
are “extremely resilient” to exploitation: “Where total protection is feasible, let us
have it; where not, let us not close the door to survival by ignoring a valid conservation technique — utilization.” Similarly, Mrosovsky (1979), Reichart (1982), and
Bustard (1980) made the argument for use where socioeconomic, political, and
cultural conditions warranted it.
These early views in support of consumptive use of marine turtles reflect contemporary discussions of sustainable use. Over time, the MTSG’s position on sustainable use has shifted slightly. For example, the 1995 Global Strategy for the
Conservation of Marine Turtles (the Strategy [MTSG, 1995]) recognizes that turtles
play a role in the cultural and social lives of coastal people and are an important
source of protein. However, it stops short of accepting sustainable use:
Too frequently…wide use by a growing human population, coupled with the migratory
nature and slow rates of natural increase of these animals, has resulted in most utilization being non-sustainable....Although this Strategy recognizes that utilization of
marine turtles occurs in many areas and does not oppose all use, it does not support
non-sustainable use.
MTSG, 1995
To date, there are no accepted guidelines for marine turtle use, although there
was an opportunity for the MTSG to provide egg-collecting guidelines in a recently
published techniques manual (Eckert et al., 1999), as suggested in the Strategy
(MTSG, 1995).
Campbell (2000, 2002a) examined attitudes of sea turtle conservation experts
toward sustainable use. Although experts agree that biological characteristics of marine
turtles constrain the extent to which sea turtles can be used with certainty, their views
on how to proceed from this starting point differ. It is on moving from this point that
the cultures of conservation become most evident. Although almost all experts believe
their views on sustainable use are informed by science, other values clearly play a
role. For example, views on local rights to use resources and on local socioeconomic
and cultural need impact on expert positions on use (Campbell, 2000). Very few experts
1123 book.book Page 327 Thursday, November 14, 2002 11:50 AM
327
Turtle Conservation cited “the use of sea turtles as food by people who live where
sea turtles are found” and “differing attitudes toward conservation in different countries” as factors contributing to sea turtle decline (Bjorndal, 1981). The 1979 meeting
did make a concession to use, when it was “a traditional way of obtaining food
practiced by aboriginal people who are not yet part of a cash economy or technological society” (Bjorndal, 1981). As the discussion of key terms in Section 12.1.4
suggests, limiting use of marine turtles along these lines, where culture and economy
are static, is problematic. Nevertheless, many marine turtle experts support such
limits on use (Campbell, 2000).
These 1979 sentiments reflect the dominant culture of conservation of the time,
one that relied on a traditional approach via the national park model. (A later manual
on conservation techniques recommends that poachers be kept away from nesting
beaches by patrolling “with assistance from military organizations, conservation
officials and interested amateurs” [Pritchard, 1983].) Early proponents of local use
existed within the MTSG, however, and Hughes (1979) argued that marine turtles
are “extremely resilient” to exploitation: “Where total protection is feasible, let us
have it; where not, let us not close the door to survival by ignoring a valid conservation technique — utilization.” Similarly, Mrosovsky (1979), Reichart (1982), and
Bustard (1980) made the argument for use where socioeconomic, political, and
cultural conditions warranted it.
These early views in support of consumptive use of marine turtles reflect contemporary discussions of sustainable use. Over time, the MTSG’s position on sustainable use has shifted slightly. For example, the 1995 Global Strategy for the
Conservation of Marine Turtles (the Strategy [MTSG, 1995]) recognizes that turtles
play a role in the cultural and social lives of coastal people and are an important
source of protein. However, it stops short of accepting sustainable use:
Too frequently…wide use by a growing human population, coupled with the migratory
nature and slow rates of natural increase of these animals, has resulted in most utilization being non-sustainable....Although this Strategy recognizes that utilization of
marine turtles occurs in many areas and does not oppose all use, it does not support
non-sustainable use.
MTSG, 1995
To date, there are no accepted guidelines for marine turtle use, although there
was an opportunity for the MTSG to provide egg-collecting guidelines in a recently
published techniques manual (Eckert et al., 1999), as suggested in the Strategy
(MTSG, 1995).
Campbell (2000, 2002a) examined attitudes of sea turtle conservation experts
toward sustainable use. Although experts agree that biological characteristics of marine
turtles constrain the extent to which sea turtles can be used with certainty, their views
on how to proceed from this starting point differ. It is on moving from this point that
the cultures of conservation become most evident. Although almost all experts believe
their views on sustainable use are informed by science, other values clearly play a
role. For example, views on local rights to use resources and on local socioeconomic
and cultural need impact on expert positions on use (Campbell, 2000). Very few experts
1123 book.book Page 327 Thursday, November 14, 2002 11:50 AM