Study

Sustainability of community-based conservation: Sea turtle egg harvesting in Ostional (Costa Rica) ten years later

  • Published source details Campbell L.M., Haalboom B.J. & Trow J. (2007) Sustainability of community-based conservation: Sea turtle egg harvesting in Ostional (Costa Rica) ten years later. Environmental Conservation, 34, 122-131.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Regulate wildlife harvesting

Action Link
Reptile Conservation
  1. Regulate wildlife harvesting

    A replicated study in 1995 and 2004 in a community in Ostional, Costa Rica (Campbell et al. 2007) found that a regulated harvest of olive ridley turtle Lepidochelys olivacea eggs resulted in community members reporting a willingness to do more to protect turtles. A majority of survey respondents reported a willingness to do more to protect sea turtles in 1995 (67%) and in 2004 (78%). A long running programme (over 20 years at time of publication) of legalized turtle egg harvesting was established and run by a community cooperative. The project made use of the “arribada”: a phenomenon of mass nesting by olive ridley turtles on nesting beaches. Members could harvest and sell turtle eggs and also carry out a range of activities relating to turtle protection, including beach cleaning, guarding and ‘liberating’ hatchlings (details of this not provided). A survey of households was carried out in 1995 (76 households) and followed up in 2004 (60 households).

    (Summarised by: Maggie Watson, Katie Sainsbury)

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