Ostional Community
Authorized to Benefit from Use of Olive
Riley Turtle Eggs
(InfoWeb Press) The gathering and sale of
Olive Ridley turtle eggs imparted by the
Asociación de Desarrollo Integral de la
Comunidad, at the Ostional Wildlife Refuge,
is regulated and allowed by the current
environmental legislation, as long as
scientific studies demonstrate that the
controlled and rational taking of these eggs
does not endanger the specie.
So explains the Ministry of Environment,
Energy and Telecommunications (or MINAET, as
abbreviated in Spanish), in an announced
made to counteract the information which has
currently been circulating through internet
and television which depict photos of
Ostional community members collecting such
eggs.
The Ostional Integral Development
Association (ADIO, as abbreviated in
Spanish) is the only entity that has
permission to commercialize the Olive Riley
Turtle eggs. These eggs must be packaged in
sealed bags, with the organization´s logos
on them plus accompanied by the
corresponding receipts.
Therefore, the consumption of turtle eggs
that don't come from Ostional and follow
these conditions is illegal, points out,
Tempisque Conservation Area Director, Nelson
Marín Mora.
The Ostional National Wildlife Refuge was
founded in 1982, precisely to protect Olive
Riley turtle nesting sites, which back then
where subject of investigation of the School
of Biology of the University of Costa Rica.
Since the 60´s, the first inhabitants of
Ostional used turtle eggs as a means of
feeding their families. However with the
creation of the refuge, the community was
organized, and formed the Ostional Integral
Development Association (ADIO), in order to
have a formal project which would allow for
the rational use of the resource, and give
protection to the area, thus preventing a
massive and uncontrolled taking of these
eggs by outsiders.
It is important to point out, that the
results of the investigations conducted by
the University of Costa Rica (UCR) show,
that given the quantity of turtles that nest
at the same time in this location, it is
technically feasible to allow a controlled
use of these eggs which would not be
damaging to the turtle population.
Furthermore, national and international
authorities have assessed the situation, and
as a means of control, permission is given
exclusively to the community of Ostional and
only through the development association.
On its part, ADIO, coordinates with MINAET
functionaries to maintain a permanent
vigilance group to watch over the turtles
and their eggs. They also conduct activities
to protect the newborn turtles and improve
their habitat.
The official decree N° 28203-MINAE-MAG
implemented in November of 1990, which has
since been revised and updated; the Fishing
and Aquiculture law Nº 8436 of the 25th of
April 2005; and the Protection, Conservation
and Recovering of Marine Turtle Populations
Law N° 8325 signed on the 28th of November
2002, back up the activity in order to make
it legal, and above all guarantee a
sustainable practice which does not warm the
Olive Riley turtle population.
On-site control is carried-out through a
biweekly plan elaborated in accordance
between INCOPESCA, MINAET, ADIO and the
School of Biology of the UCR. One of the
objectives is to maintain, the permissible
limits of the use of the Olive Riley turtles
low, in order to minimize the impact caused
by human activity and guarantee a rational
extraction of their eggs.
Concurrently, the extraction of these eggs
can only be carried out during two and a
half days, after the nesting season has been
declared, by either the project director or
the UCR biologist on call, to have started.
In conclusion, this project contributes with
the integral sustainability of the area and
brings benefits to the community of Ostional.
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