Conservation regulations aimed at restricting resource use are commonly used to manage and protec... more Conservation regulations aimed at restricting resource use are commonly used to manage and protect natural resources but their implementation depends on the compliance of resource users. The design of effective regulations should be informed by an understanding of the factors that affect compliance, considering contextual socio-economic information. Changes have been implemented in the national legislation protecting marine turtles in the Cape Verde archipelago, where historical and recent records indicate heavy human predation pressure on nesting and foraging marine turtles. We present an assessment of levels of illegal harvesting and consumption of marine turtle products on two of the islands, Boa Vista and Santiago, and an analysis of their potential drivers. Key stakeholders were interviewed to investigate the perceived impact of the main interventions employed in Cape Verde to reduce illegal harvesting, trade and consumption of marine turtles. Despite an apparent decrease in ha...
Green sea turtles are common in West Central Africa, but little is known about the occurrence of ... more Green sea turtles are common in West Central Africa, but little is known about the occurrence of immatures in foraging grounds in the Gulf of Guinea islands, known for their volcanic origin and narrow coastal fringes. This study presents results of in-water surveys in foraging grounds off São Tomé Island, in the São Tomé and Príncipe archipelago, providing the first available data on the size distribution of immature green sea turtles of different life-stage groups on these islands. Two sites offering distinct types of food sources were studied, and isotopic signatures of immature turtles hand-captured at each foraging site were used to infer (1) how long they were established at the foraging sites and (2) their diet preferences. Recruitment in the region was estimated to occur at a minimum size of 34 cm curved carapace length (CCL), and resident immature turtles ranged from 53 to 87 cm CCL. Immatures sampled at each site showed clear differences in isotopic signatures, suggesting that they establish specific home ranges related to the available diet items and use them for extended periods of at least several months. Macroalgae were as important as or more important than seagrasses for the turtles' diets, and there was evidence that these individuals are not strictly herbivorous. Our study provides the first dataset for comparison with demographic data from other locations in West Africa, where current knowledge on green turtle foraging behavior is limited, and indicates that even oceanic islands that are geologically recent like São Tomé may provide important recruitment and development habitats for juvenile green turtles.
The Olive Ridley Project (ORP) was set up to protect sea turtles and their habitats. The project ... more The Olive Ridley Project (ORP) was set up to protect sea turtles and their habitats. The project was formed in 2013, and it became a registered charity in the UK in 2016. From its inception, ORP took a multidisciplinary approach to achieve its goals. Part of its objectives, and the reason why the charity came to fruition, are related to the issue of olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) entanglement in abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear (also known as ‘ghost gear’ or ‘ghost nets’), and the search for ghost gear and turtle entanglement ‘hot spots’ throughout the Indian Ocean. The initial ORP research questions were soon challenged by societal interests to develop inclusive educational programmes in local communities and tourist resorts that could raise awareness about the need for conservation of all sea turtle species. In February 2017, ORP opened the first veterinarian-run, fully equipped Marine Turtle Rescue Centre in the Maldives, bringing together the work of re...
The unsustainable wildmeat trade has been long recognized as a threat to wildlife. Yet, its impac... more The unsustainable wildmeat trade has been long recognized as a threat to wildlife. Yet, its impact on marine species has been underresearched. Sea turtles have been historically threatened by unsustainable trade, but there are few studies of consumer profile, motivations, and preferences. We conducted a survey in São Tomé Island, Gulf of Guinea, West Africa, including eight rural communities (n = 1,160) and the capital city of São Tomé (n = 628). We estimated prevalence of consumption, preference and availability of sea turtle meat and eggs. About 25% of rural and 32% of urban respondents had consumed meat in the past year. Around 25% of rural respondents were egg consumers, whereas little consumption was found in urban areas. Social norms were a predictor of consumption of sea turtle meat and eggs in rural communities but not in São Tomé city. Regarding influencers, teachers and religious leaders were the most trusted sources in rural communities, while teachers and NGOs were most trusted in São Tomé city. Radio and television were the most trusted channels in rural communities, while urban dwellers trusted radio the most. This research showcases how a structured approach to audience research can obtain behavioral insights that can guide behavior change efforts. K E Y W O R D S aquatic, behavior change, bushmeat, demand reduction, illegal behavior, marketing, São Tomé and Príncipe, unmatched count technique, wildlife trade, wildmeat 1 | INTRODUCTION All major threats to biodiversity are a consequence of the daily decision-making patterns of billions of humans worldwide (Schultz, 2011). Thus, conservation practitioners and scientists are increasingly focused on influencing human behavior and understanding the drivers behind it (Veríssimo, 2019). This has led to the increasing interest in fields such as conservation marketing, which is the ethical application of marketing strategies, concepts, and techniques to influence attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors of individuals, and ultimately
Desafios na conservação das Tartarugas Marinhas nos países lusófonos: procurando soluções no turi... more Desafios na conservação das Tartarugas Marinhas nos países lusófonos: procurando soluções no turismo Challenges in the Conservation of marine turtles in Portuguese speaking countries: searching for solutions in tourism Joana M. Hancock.Associação para a Proteção, Conservação e Pesquisa das Tartarugas Marinhas nos Países Lusofonos (Cabo Verde e São Tomé e Príncipe)) Resumo A grande procura de destinos turísticos balneares, assim como a crescente procura de atividades turísticas marinhas tem aumentado a pressão colocada sobre a zona costeira. Sendo "espécies bandeiras", e animais bastante carismáticos, as tartarugas marinhas são frequentemente promovidas como atração turística, sendo usadas para transmitir aos públicos-alvo a necessidade da sua conservação, e dos habitats de que dependem. Este artigo faz uma reflexão sobre o impacto do turismo na conservação das tartarugas marinhas, olhando particularmente para casos em Cabo Verde e São Tomé e Príncipe, chamando a atenção para a necessidade de promover e gerir o turismo nas zonas costeiras, de modo a minimizar o seu impacto no ambiente e comunidades, e reduzir os conflitos entre estas e os programas de conservação. Astract The increasing demand for beachfront destinations and activities has put much pressure on the costal areas. As flagship species, and therefore charismatic, marine turtles are frequently promoted as tourist attraction, being also used to pass on to target groups the knowledge of the need of protecting them, as well as the habitats upon which they depend. This article will make discuss the impact of tourism in the conservation of these animals, looking particularly at cases in Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe, drawing the attention to the need of promoting and manage tourism in the coastal areas, in such a way that its impacts in the environment and local communities is minimized, and thus conflicts with conservation projects are reduced.
The Olive Ridley Project (ORP) was set up to protect sea turtles and their habitats. The project ... more The Olive Ridley Project (ORP) was set up to protect sea turtles and their habitats. The project was formed in 2013, and it became a registered charity in the UK in 2016. From its inception, ORP took a multidisciplinary approach to achieve its goals. Part of its objectives, and the reason why the charity came to fruition, are related to the issue of olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) entanglement in abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear (also known as ‘ghost gear’ or ‘ghost nets’), and the search for ghost gear and turtle entanglement ‘hot spots’ throughout the Indian Ocean. The initial ORP research questions were soon challenged by societal interests to develop inclusive educational programmes in local communities and tourist resorts that could raise awareness about the need for conservation of all sea turtle species. In February 2017, ORP opened the first veterinarian-run, fully equipped Marine Turtle Rescue Centre in the Maldives, bringing together the work of re...
Green sea turtles are common in West Central Africa, but little is known about the occurrence of ... more Green sea turtles are common in West Central Africa, but little is known about the occurrence of immatures in foraging grounds in the Gulf of Guinea islands, known for their volcanic origin and narrow coastal fringes. This study presents results of in-water surveys in foraging grounds off São Tomé Island, in the São Tomé and Príncipe archipelago, providing the first available data on the size distribution of immature green sea turtles of different life-stage groups on these islands. Two sites offering distinct types of food sources were studied, and isotopic signatures of immature turtles hand-captured at each foraging site were used to infer (1) how long they were established at the foraging sites and (2) their diet preferences. Recruitment in the region was estimated to occur at a minimum size of 34 cm curved carapace length (CCL), and resident immature turtles ranged from 53 to 87 cm CCL. Immatures sampled at each site showed clear differences in isotopic signatures, suggesting that they establish specific home ranges related to the available diet items and use them for extended periods of at least several months. Macroalgae were as important as or more important than seagrasses for the turtles’ diets, and there was evidence that these individuals are not strictly herbivorous. Our study provides the first dataset for comparison with demographic data from other locations in West Africa, where current knowledge on green turtle foraging behavior is limited, and indicates that even oceanic islands that are geologically recent like São Tomé may provide important recruitment and development habitats for juvenile green turtles.
Conservation regulations aimed at restricting resource use are commonly used to manage and protec... more Conservation regulations aimed at restricting resource use are commonly used to manage and protect natural resources but their implementation depends on the compliance of resource users. The design of effective regulations should be informed by an understanding of the factors that affect compliance, considering contextual socio-economic information. Changes have been implemented in the national legislation protecting marine turtles in the Cape Verde archipelago, where historical and recent records indicate heavy human predation pressure on nesting and foraging marine turtles. We present an assessment of levels of illegal harvesting and consumption of marine turtle products on two of the islands, Boa Vista and Santiago, and an analysis of their potential drivers. Key stakeholders were interviewed to investigate the perceived impact of the main interventions employed in Cape Verde to reduce illegal harvesting, trade and consumption of marine turtles. Despite an apparent decrease in harvesting and consumption , our results suggest there has been a shift from subsistence harvesting to trade in Boa Vista. The existence of laws to protect marine turtles was perceived as a deterrent to harvesting , and awareness campaigns and a lack of availability were perceived as reasons for the decrease in consumption in Boa Vista and Santiago, respectively. Aiming to inform ongoing discussions, we recommend a multi-targeted approach focusing on both suppliers and consumers to magnify conservation effectiveness. Regular impact evaluation focusing on harvest and consumption is needed to improve the design of regulations and inform policy decision making.
Ambientalmente Sustentable Revista Cientifica Galego Lusofona De Educacion Ambiental, 2011
a Proteção, Conservação e Pesquisa das Tartarugas Marinhas nos Países Lusofonos (Cabo Verde e São... more a Proteção, Conservação e Pesquisa das Tartarugas Marinhas nos Países Lusofonos (Cabo Verde e São Tomé e Príncipe)) Resumo A grande procura de destinos turísticos balneares, assim como a crescente procura de atividades turísticas marinhas tem aumentado a pressão colocada sobre a zona costeira. Sendo "espécies bandeiras", e animais bastante carismáticos, as tartarugas marinhas são frequentemente promovidas como atração turística, sendo usadas para transmitir aos públicos-alvo a necessidade da sua conservação, e dos habitats de que dependem. Este artigo faz uma reflexão sobre o impacto do turismo na conservação das tartarugas marinhas, olhando particularmente para casos em Cabo Verde e São Tomé e Príncipe, chamando a atenção para a necessidade de promover e gerir o turismo nas zonas costeiras, de modo a minimizar o seu impacto no ambiente e comunidades, e reduzir os conflitos entre estas e os programas de conservação.
Conservation regulations aimed at restricting resource use are commonly used to manage and protec... more Conservation regulations aimed at restricting resource use are commonly used to manage and protect natural resources but their implementation depends on the compliance of resource users. The design of effective regulations should be informed by an understanding of the factors that affect compliance, considering contextual socio-economic information. Changes have been implemented in the national legislation protecting marine turtles in the Cape Verde archipelago, where historical and recent records indicate heavy human predation pressure on nesting and foraging marine turtles. We present an assessment of levels of illegal harvesting and consumption of marine turtle products on two of the islands, Boa Vista and Santiago, and an analysis of their potential drivers. Key stakeholders were interviewed to investigate the perceived impact of the main interventions employed in Cape Verde to reduce illegal harvesting, trade and consumption of marine turtles. Despite an apparent decrease in ha...
Green sea turtles are common in West Central Africa, but little is known about the occurrence of ... more Green sea turtles are common in West Central Africa, but little is known about the occurrence of immatures in foraging grounds in the Gulf of Guinea islands, known for their volcanic origin and narrow coastal fringes. This study presents results of in-water surveys in foraging grounds off São Tomé Island, in the São Tomé and Príncipe archipelago, providing the first available data on the size distribution of immature green sea turtles of different life-stage groups on these islands. Two sites offering distinct types of food sources were studied, and isotopic signatures of immature turtles hand-captured at each foraging site were used to infer (1) how long they were established at the foraging sites and (2) their diet preferences. Recruitment in the region was estimated to occur at a minimum size of 34 cm curved carapace length (CCL), and resident immature turtles ranged from 53 to 87 cm CCL. Immatures sampled at each site showed clear differences in isotopic signatures, suggesting that they establish specific home ranges related to the available diet items and use them for extended periods of at least several months. Macroalgae were as important as or more important than seagrasses for the turtles' diets, and there was evidence that these individuals are not strictly herbivorous. Our study provides the first dataset for comparison with demographic data from other locations in West Africa, where current knowledge on green turtle foraging behavior is limited, and indicates that even oceanic islands that are geologically recent like São Tomé may provide important recruitment and development habitats for juvenile green turtles.
The Olive Ridley Project (ORP) was set up to protect sea turtles and their habitats. The project ... more The Olive Ridley Project (ORP) was set up to protect sea turtles and their habitats. The project was formed in 2013, and it became a registered charity in the UK in 2016. From its inception, ORP took a multidisciplinary approach to achieve its goals. Part of its objectives, and the reason why the charity came to fruition, are related to the issue of olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) entanglement in abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear (also known as ‘ghost gear’ or ‘ghost nets’), and the search for ghost gear and turtle entanglement ‘hot spots’ throughout the Indian Ocean. The initial ORP research questions were soon challenged by societal interests to develop inclusive educational programmes in local communities and tourist resorts that could raise awareness about the need for conservation of all sea turtle species. In February 2017, ORP opened the first veterinarian-run, fully equipped Marine Turtle Rescue Centre in the Maldives, bringing together the work of re...
The unsustainable wildmeat trade has been long recognized as a threat to wildlife. Yet, its impac... more The unsustainable wildmeat trade has been long recognized as a threat to wildlife. Yet, its impact on marine species has been underresearched. Sea turtles have been historically threatened by unsustainable trade, but there are few studies of consumer profile, motivations, and preferences. We conducted a survey in São Tomé Island, Gulf of Guinea, West Africa, including eight rural communities (n = 1,160) and the capital city of São Tomé (n = 628). We estimated prevalence of consumption, preference and availability of sea turtle meat and eggs. About 25% of rural and 32% of urban respondents had consumed meat in the past year. Around 25% of rural respondents were egg consumers, whereas little consumption was found in urban areas. Social norms were a predictor of consumption of sea turtle meat and eggs in rural communities but not in São Tomé city. Regarding influencers, teachers and religious leaders were the most trusted sources in rural communities, while teachers and NGOs were most trusted in São Tomé city. Radio and television were the most trusted channels in rural communities, while urban dwellers trusted radio the most. This research showcases how a structured approach to audience research can obtain behavioral insights that can guide behavior change efforts. K E Y W O R D S aquatic, behavior change, bushmeat, demand reduction, illegal behavior, marketing, São Tomé and Príncipe, unmatched count technique, wildlife trade, wildmeat 1 | INTRODUCTION All major threats to biodiversity are a consequence of the daily decision-making patterns of billions of humans worldwide (Schultz, 2011). Thus, conservation practitioners and scientists are increasingly focused on influencing human behavior and understanding the drivers behind it (Veríssimo, 2019). This has led to the increasing interest in fields such as conservation marketing, which is the ethical application of marketing strategies, concepts, and techniques to influence attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors of individuals, and ultimately
Desafios na conservação das Tartarugas Marinhas nos países lusófonos: procurando soluções no turi... more Desafios na conservação das Tartarugas Marinhas nos países lusófonos: procurando soluções no turismo Challenges in the Conservation of marine turtles in Portuguese speaking countries: searching for solutions in tourism Joana M. Hancock.Associação para a Proteção, Conservação e Pesquisa das Tartarugas Marinhas nos Países Lusofonos (Cabo Verde e São Tomé e Príncipe)) Resumo A grande procura de destinos turísticos balneares, assim como a crescente procura de atividades turísticas marinhas tem aumentado a pressão colocada sobre a zona costeira. Sendo "espécies bandeiras", e animais bastante carismáticos, as tartarugas marinhas são frequentemente promovidas como atração turística, sendo usadas para transmitir aos públicos-alvo a necessidade da sua conservação, e dos habitats de que dependem. Este artigo faz uma reflexão sobre o impacto do turismo na conservação das tartarugas marinhas, olhando particularmente para casos em Cabo Verde e São Tomé e Príncipe, chamando a atenção para a necessidade de promover e gerir o turismo nas zonas costeiras, de modo a minimizar o seu impacto no ambiente e comunidades, e reduzir os conflitos entre estas e os programas de conservação. Astract The increasing demand for beachfront destinations and activities has put much pressure on the costal areas. As flagship species, and therefore charismatic, marine turtles are frequently promoted as tourist attraction, being also used to pass on to target groups the knowledge of the need of protecting them, as well as the habitats upon which they depend. This article will make discuss the impact of tourism in the conservation of these animals, looking particularly at cases in Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe, drawing the attention to the need of promoting and manage tourism in the coastal areas, in such a way that its impacts in the environment and local communities is minimized, and thus conflicts with conservation projects are reduced.
The Olive Ridley Project (ORP) was set up to protect sea turtles and their habitats. The project ... more The Olive Ridley Project (ORP) was set up to protect sea turtles and their habitats. The project was formed in 2013, and it became a registered charity in the UK in 2016. From its inception, ORP took a multidisciplinary approach to achieve its goals. Part of its objectives, and the reason why the charity came to fruition, are related to the issue of olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) entanglement in abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear (also known as ‘ghost gear’ or ‘ghost nets’), and the search for ghost gear and turtle entanglement ‘hot spots’ throughout the Indian Ocean. The initial ORP research questions were soon challenged by societal interests to develop inclusive educational programmes in local communities and tourist resorts that could raise awareness about the need for conservation of all sea turtle species. In February 2017, ORP opened the first veterinarian-run, fully equipped Marine Turtle Rescue Centre in the Maldives, bringing together the work of re...
Green sea turtles are common in West Central Africa, but little is known about the occurrence of ... more Green sea turtles are common in West Central Africa, but little is known about the occurrence of immatures in foraging grounds in the Gulf of Guinea islands, known for their volcanic origin and narrow coastal fringes. This study presents results of in-water surveys in foraging grounds off São Tomé Island, in the São Tomé and Príncipe archipelago, providing the first available data on the size distribution of immature green sea turtles of different life-stage groups on these islands. Two sites offering distinct types of food sources were studied, and isotopic signatures of immature turtles hand-captured at each foraging site were used to infer (1) how long they were established at the foraging sites and (2) their diet preferences. Recruitment in the region was estimated to occur at a minimum size of 34 cm curved carapace length (CCL), and resident immature turtles ranged from 53 to 87 cm CCL. Immatures sampled at each site showed clear differences in isotopic signatures, suggesting that they establish specific home ranges related to the available diet items and use them for extended periods of at least several months. Macroalgae were as important as or more important than seagrasses for the turtles’ diets, and there was evidence that these individuals are not strictly herbivorous. Our study provides the first dataset for comparison with demographic data from other locations in West Africa, where current knowledge on green turtle foraging behavior is limited, and indicates that even oceanic islands that are geologically recent like São Tomé may provide important recruitment and development habitats for juvenile green turtles.
Conservation regulations aimed at restricting resource use are commonly used to manage and protec... more Conservation regulations aimed at restricting resource use are commonly used to manage and protect natural resources but their implementation depends on the compliance of resource users. The design of effective regulations should be informed by an understanding of the factors that affect compliance, considering contextual socio-economic information. Changes have been implemented in the national legislation protecting marine turtles in the Cape Verde archipelago, where historical and recent records indicate heavy human predation pressure on nesting and foraging marine turtles. We present an assessment of levels of illegal harvesting and consumption of marine turtle products on two of the islands, Boa Vista and Santiago, and an analysis of their potential drivers. Key stakeholders were interviewed to investigate the perceived impact of the main interventions employed in Cape Verde to reduce illegal harvesting, trade and consumption of marine turtles. Despite an apparent decrease in harvesting and consumption , our results suggest there has been a shift from subsistence harvesting to trade in Boa Vista. The existence of laws to protect marine turtles was perceived as a deterrent to harvesting , and awareness campaigns and a lack of availability were perceived as reasons for the decrease in consumption in Boa Vista and Santiago, respectively. Aiming to inform ongoing discussions, we recommend a multi-targeted approach focusing on both suppliers and consumers to magnify conservation effectiveness. Regular impact evaluation focusing on harvest and consumption is needed to improve the design of regulations and inform policy decision making.
Ambientalmente Sustentable Revista Cientifica Galego Lusofona De Educacion Ambiental, 2011
a Proteção, Conservação e Pesquisa das Tartarugas Marinhas nos Países Lusofonos (Cabo Verde e São... more a Proteção, Conservação e Pesquisa das Tartarugas Marinhas nos Países Lusofonos (Cabo Verde e São Tomé e Príncipe)) Resumo A grande procura de destinos turísticos balneares, assim como a crescente procura de atividades turísticas marinhas tem aumentado a pressão colocada sobre a zona costeira. Sendo "espécies bandeiras", e animais bastante carismáticos, as tartarugas marinhas são frequentemente promovidas como atração turística, sendo usadas para transmitir aos públicos-alvo a necessidade da sua conservação, e dos habitats de que dependem. Este artigo faz uma reflexão sobre o impacto do turismo na conservação das tartarugas marinhas, olhando particularmente para casos em Cabo Verde e São Tomé e Príncipe, chamando a atenção para a necessidade de promover e gerir o turismo nas zonas costeiras, de modo a minimizar o seu impacto no ambiente e comunidades, e reduzir os conflitos entre estas e os programas de conservação.
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