The harvest of sea turtles is controversial for many reasons. First, sea turtles are already threatened and endangered because sea turtle populations suffer from a history of unsustainable hunting and fishing (bushmeat) practices in addition to habitat degradation. Other anthropogenic pressures are inflicted as well. For example, Leatherback sea turtles are mistaking and ingesting plastic bags for jellyfish. This results in impaction and death of nature’s largest sea turtle. Habitat loss from coastal development is another important issue that needs mitigating. Therefore, sea turtle populations cannot support the demands of cultural or traditional fishing practices in addition to the effects of unsustainable fishing where sea turtles end up a bycatch. In addition to being a source of meat, sea turtles are symbolic as a flagship species to many people around the world. People do not want to see their symbols slaughtered.

Further, an environmental conundrum exists because sea turtles do not follow political boundaries. For example, sea turtle regulations imposed upon the fishers of one country may have their gains threatened since the population may start declining due to further or unknown anthropogenic interactions occurring within other countries. Although sensible and beneficial environmental management practices are occurring in one country, it is possible for resource users within that country to be penalized for concurring and seemingly uncontrollably actions happening to an endangered species that migrates to another country if population estimates are used in considering management objectives and restrictions.

The best example is when sea turtles migrate between American and Mexican waters. The Endangered Species Act requires species management plans for endangered species to recover. Sea turtle regulations have made fluke and shrimp trawlers use Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs). The widespread use of TEDs have resulted in increased sea turtle populations. However, individuals making up a population may face habitat loss or human consumption in Mexico or other countries to the south as migration occurs. However, attitudes towards conservation are changing where Cuba is phasing out its marine turtle fishery. From Science Centric, Bulgaria:

The phase out of the marine turtle fishery in Cuba is the result of a joint effort by the Cuban Ministry of Fisheries and WWF, with financial support from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

‘This decision reflects the political will of the Cuban government to join the call of the international community to adopt measures that guarantee the conservation of marine turtles,’ declared Dr Elisa Garcia, Director of Fishing Regulations at the Ministry of Fisheries of Cuba.

The two remaining fishing communities used to harvest marine turtles in Cuba are being provided with funds and technical assistance to help them implement specifically developed sustainable economic alternatives, modernise their fishing fleets, re-train their inhabitants and engage them in hawksbill turtle protection activities.

Notice how this is a joint venture between WWF Canada and Cuba. I agree with the approach of WWF Canada that considers the fisher’s economic interests.

The consumption of marine bushmeat is a concept that is not normally considered. Bushmeat is typically applied to land animals. However, the bush really refers to a place in nature, wilderness, free-living, or outside of human existence, experience, realm, or domestication so why can’t you refer to marine animals taken for consumption as bushmeat?

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