Page 344 - Central America

arine sea turtles are caught worldwide, working with villagers to promote ecotourism is able to grow and become stronger with the

Malthough it is illegal to hunt most species as a permanent substitute to sea turtle hunting. presence of nutrients from sea turtle eggs, un-
in many countries. A great deal of intentional Sea turtle nesting grounds became sustainable. hatched nests, eggs and trapped hatchlings.

marine sea turtle harvests are for food. Many Sea turtles play key roles in two ecosystem As the dune vegetation grows stronger and
parts of the world have long considered sea tur- types that are critical to them as well as to healthier, the health of the entire beach/dune
tles to be fine dining. Many coastal communi- ecosystem becomes better.

ties depend on sea turtles as a source of protein, humans——oceans and beaches and dunes. Of the seven species of sea turtles, five
often harvesting several sea turtles at once and In the oceans, sea turtles, especially green sea are listed on the IUCN Red List of Endan-
keeping them alive on their backs until needed. turtles, are one of very few creatures (manatees

Coastal peoples gather sea turtle eggs for con- are another) that eat the sea grass that grows on gered Species as either “endangered” or “criti-

sumption. the sea floor. Sea grass needs to be constantly cally endangered”. Globally, the Kemp’s ridley,

Leatherback sea turtles enjoy immunity from cut short to help it grow across the sea floor. hawksbill, and leatherback sea turtles are list-
the sting of the deadly box jellyfish and reg- Sea turtles act as grazing animals that cut the ed as “Critically Endangered”, the loggerhead
grass short and help maintain the health of the and green as “Endangered”. Although sea tur-

ularly eat them, helping keep tropical beaches sea grass beds. Sea grass beds provide breeding tles usually lay around one hundred eggs at a

safe for humans. Tortuguero, Costa Rica, have and developmental grounds for numerous spe- time, on average only one of the eggs from the

transitioned from a tourism industry that made cies of fish, shellfish and crustaceans. Without nest will survive to adulthood. While many of

profits from selling sea turtle meat and shells to sea grass beds, many marine species humans the things that endanger these hatchlings are

an ecotourism-based economy. Tortuguero is harvest would be lost, as would the lower levels natural, such as predators including sharks, rac-

considered to be the founding location of sea of the food chain. The reactions could result in coons, foxes, and seagulls, many new threats to

turtle conservation. In the 1960s the cultural many more marine species eventually becom- the sea turtle species have recently arrived and

demand for sea turtle meat, shells, and eggs ing endangered or extinct. increased with the ever-growing presence of

was quickly killing the once abundant sea tur- Sea turtles use beaches and the lower dunes humans.
tle populations that nested on the beach. The to nest and lay their eggs. Dune vegetation
Caribbean Conservation Corporation began