Succes

The novelty and strength of this approach has yielded a conservation constituency among fishermen and their families characterised by local pride, empowerment and stewardship. Three years into this five-year initiative, preliminary results indicate decreased turtle bycatch and poaching, changes in local attitude and an emerging “sea ethic”. Enforcement agents from PROFEPA, SAGARPA and local councils are pursuing turtle violations that in the past were ignored. Increasing numbers of fishermen are self-enforcing turtle protection amongst themselves and between and within their cooperatives. Fishermen, students and their families are celebrating sea turtles through festivals, artwork and music. All of this translates into turtles saved and steps toward the recovery of turtle populations. Finally, there are indications that this emerging “sea ethic,” borne by people’s increasing interest in turtle conservation, is leading them to manage fisheries such as lobster and abalone more sustainably, an unexpected but welcome result.