Gaps in the Legal Exploitation of Kemp´s Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) Eggs at Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica

Abstract

The Olive Ridley sea turtle nests lonely, in arribada and in mixed condition. The arribadas are massive and synchronized events that only occur on some nesting beaches, one of the most important in the world is Ostional in northwestern Costa Rica. This beach is part of the National Wildlife Refuge Ostional (ONWL) which was created in order to protect sea turtle nesting and regulate the egg extraction. From there a decree allowing the legal exploitation of olive Ridley eggs by Ostional community members was issued. The harvest is managed by the Ostional Development Association (ADIO). This communal egg harvesting is a great example of the use of biodiversity by indigenous communities along the lines of the CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity). However, there are many loopholes to exploiting eggs and the protection and conservation of the Kemp's Ridley turtle. This paper analyzes different factors related to sea turtles in the Ostional and the exploitation of their eggs. We try to identify the main gaps that exist for this operation compared to the intended results of the decree of exploitation and the creation of the ONWL. The first gap is that the ONWR does not have a formalized management plan. Management effectiveness of a protected area depends on its management plan. Associated with this point is one of the main gaps in the refuge; its definition as such. At the moment it is not known if the refuge is state owned or mixed. This uncertainty creates great instability to both the protected area and the community of Ostional. Another gap is the indeterminacy of the population status of the Kemp's Ridley turtle. Apparently the methodologies used for this purpose have not been adequate to monitor the population. Although it is argued that the population of olive Ridley nesting in Ostional has increased, there is no scientific literature to support this argument. Similarly no proven backup exits for the idea that harvesting eggs have direct benefits for the population of the olive Ridley nesting in Ostional. Also aspects of possible zoonosis due to interactions with turtles or from egg consumption have not been investigated. Although ecotourism is an economic alternative for Ostional, it lacks proper management. In all these respects the MINAE (Ministerio del Ambiente y Energía), as head of the country's wildlife patrimony, is called to take the leadership. Their actions must be associated with those of ADIO and all institutions responsible for ensuring the welfare of the community of Ostional and conservation of the Kemp's Ridley.