TURTLE PROTECTION
for Tour Operators
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
OBJECTIVES
By the end of the session you will be able to:
> List some facts about marine turtles
> Identify the issues facing the marine turtles and why they
are on the World Conservations Union (IUCN) endangered
species list
> List the ways you can help to protect marine turtles
> Decide what to do if you come across a turtle in trouble
> Discuss turtle protection with guests and name the ways
turtle protection messages can be delivered to customers
ABOUT MARINE TURTLES
Did you know…
> Marine turtles have inhabited the earth for over 110
million years
> There are 7 species of sea turtle, including
Loggerhead, Hawksbill and Olive Ridley
> All 7 species of sea turtle are endangered
> Only 1 out of every 1,000 new born turtles reaches
adulthood
WHY ARE MARINE TURTLES
ENDANGERED?
>
>
>
>
Entanglement in fishing gear
Use of turtle eggs and meat
Pollution
Habitat disturbance
> Natural threats
> Dogs, gulls, crows predatory fish, octopus, seals, sharks
> Human threats
> Waste, sunshades & sunbeds, nocturnal noise and light,
motorised water sports, wooden walkways, vehicle driving
and horseriding on the beach, illegal souvenir trade
> Climate change
Some of these threats are as a result of tourism
What can you do to help?
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS FACING
MARINE TURTLES?
> There are a variety of dangers and issues facing marine
turtles and their habitats
> Marine and beach habitat can be disturbed or destroyed
by development and human activity
> Understanding the dangers and knowing what you can
do to help benefits not only the turtles and their
environment, but also helps your customers understand
the unique place they have chosen to spend their
holiday.
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
DANGER
> Turtles can be hit by speedboats and jet skis
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
> Discourage your customers from using speedboats or jet skis
where there are turtles in the water.
> Persuade them to drive them slowly, keeping a lookout for any
turtles in the water.
> Provide details on what customers should do if they see a turtle.
For example:
> Keep your distance
> Never try and grab a turtle, they don’t like being grabbed and
can deliver a very nasty bite!
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
DANGER
> Marine litter, such as plastic bags
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
> Marine turtles often mistake plastic bags for jelly fish, and if they
eat them it can block their digestive system and they can die.
> Encourage your customers to dispose of litter responsibly, and
never throw litter in the sea, leave it on the beach or flush it down
the toilet.
> By promoting and even selling reusable bags you can cut down on
the amount of litter on the beach.
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
DANGER
> Lots of noise, light and movement on the beach can disturb the
female turtles and prevent them laying their eggs
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
> Sea turtles are easily disturbed by human presence, and should
you or your customers encounter one, keep your distance, try to be
quiet and do not touch them.
> Please ask your customers not to walk on turtle nesting beaches at
night during the breeding season, and avoid using flash
photography.
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
DANGER
> Nests being disturbed or damaged by people walking over them
and shading them from the sun by beach furniture
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
> Advise your customers not to drive vehicles or ride horses on turtle
nesting beaches during the turtle breeding season.
> Encourage them to avoid walking along the back of the beach.
> During the day keep all beach furniture close to the sea, ideally
within a few metres of the waterline.
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
DANGER
> Obstacles on the beach preventing or hindering the hatchlings
getting to the sea
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
> Always make sure beach furniture is removed from turtle nesting
beaches before night fall.
> Encourage your customers to level off any sandcastles and fill in
any holes that they have dug on the turtle nesting beach. Deep
holes have even been known to trap and kill nesting females.
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
DANGER
> Lights on the beach confusing the hatchlings and making them run
inland rather than to the sea
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
> Baby turtles are guided to the sea by moonlight on the horizon.
> Make sure there are absolutely no lights shining on turtle nesting
beaches at night. By switching off the lights you can help to make
drastic savings on the hotel electricity bills and of course, you will
help baby turtles get to the sea, giving them that extra chance of
survival.
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
DANGER
> Being hunted for their shells in some parts of the world
tortoiseshell jewellery (made from Hawksbill turtle shell), turtle
shells and stuffed turtles are sold in tourist gift shops.
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
> Encourage your customers to never buy turtle products while on
holiday, for their own sake as well as for the turtles.
> International trade in turtle products such as tortoiseshell jewellery,
turtle shells and stuffed turtles is banned under the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
> It is illegal to bring turtle products into the UK.
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
DANGER
> Climate change will affect marine turtles and their habitats around
the world. For example nesting beaches may become inundated
as a result of significant sea level rise.
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
> Climate change is a problem that we can all address, even when
on holiday.
> Encourage your customers to switch off any lights or electrical
appliances such as TVs and air conditioning units when they are
not in use.
> Suggest that your customers walk, cycle or use public transport
whenever possible rather than using petrol fuelled vehicles.
A TURTLE IN TROUBLE?
> If you come across a dead or injured turtle, or a customer notifies
your representative or reception desk, contact your local turtle
conservation/protection organisation, some of which are…
> Cape Verde
> Caribbean
> Greece
> Mexico
> Turkey
> Other...
SOS Tartarugas www.sostartarugas.org
WIDECAST http://www.widecast.org/
Katelios Group, Kefalonia www.kateliosgroup.org
Archelon www.archelon.gr
Flora, Fauna Y Cultura de Mexico, A.C.
www.florafaunaycultura.org/
Dekamer http://caretta.pau.edu.tr/index_eng.html
Ayse Oruc of WWF-Turkey www.wwf.org.tr
Dalyan http://www.dalyanturtles.com/
Marine Conservation Society www.mcsuk.org
MEDASSET www.medasset.org
The Coral Reef Alliance http://coral.org/
TURTLE PROTECTION
OUR CUSTOMERS
> Protecting the product
> unspoilt destinations
(pollution, water scarcity,
extreme weather)
> unique character
(unsympathetic
development, imported
goods and culture)
> Being welcome
> Enjoying unique wildlife
TURTLE PROTECTION
WHEN TO TALK WITH CUSTOMERS
WASTING
> Pre-departure
RESOURCES IS
A WASTE
> In flight
OF MONEY
> On transfers
> In Welcome Meetings
> Through leaflets in welcome packs
> In one-to-one discussions
> Through kids clubs
> Encourage excursion suppliers e.g. catamaran trips, jet ski hire to
talk about the turtles on the excursions and to avoid areas close to
nesting beaches
> A holiday near a turtle nesting beach provides the chance to see
turtles in the wild
> Encourage this interest and make customers feel that they can
contribute to the turtles survival
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
IN THE CARIBBEAN…
> Protecting endangered nesting
turtles – so they can make
their way from the sands to the
sea!
> Helping hunters become
guides...
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
WHO BENEFITS?
> Our customers
> Our business
> The places our customers love to visit!
YOU ARE THE KEY…
You can do your bit and help protect turtles.
You only have to be confident to talk to
customers about the benefits of turtle protection
and check that customers know what they can
do.
Thank you