Sea Turtle Recovery Action Plan for St. Kitts and Nevis - WIDECAST

CEP Technical Report No. 17
requesting that visitors not buy turtle products, collect starfish, disturb coral reefs (trampling,
anchoring, touching, collection), use spear-guns, drive vehicles on the beach, litter, etc. It would
be helpful to reach cruise ship passengers and yachters, as well. The number of cruise and yacht
passengers doubled between 1982 and 1983 and had tripled by 1989 (CCA, 1991). NHCS and
SCHS should design appropriate brochures and other educational materials for tourists. Funding
should be sought from local industries and private foundations.
Following the April 1992 capture and release of a large leatherback turtle from Oualie
Beach, Nevis, John Yearwood, President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Hotel Association, spoke
eloquently to the point that sea turtles have value not only to residents, but to visitors as well. He
said, "Many visitors are attracted to our shores, in the knowledge that they have a good chance of
seeing leatherbacks and other rare sea turtle species whilst snorkeling or SCUBA-diving in our
crystal clear waters. A leatherback turtle of this great size and age is potentially exceptionally
more valuable to our tourism industry, alive and free rather than dying painfully on a beach,
totally out of its natural element. Our Government should give serious and urgent consideration
to reviewing existing legislation to protect all endangered species in our Federation -- and to
working with local fishermen and SCUBA-diving operators to identify coral reefs to be set aside
as Protected Marine Parks, without endangering the livelihood of our hard-working local
fishermen." (The Democrat, 25 April 1992).
4.44 Non-consumptive uses of sea turtles to generate revenue
"Good ecology is good economics". Several authors have extolled the beauty, diversity,
and promise of the Southeast Peninsula of St. Kitts with regard to ecotourism, often with
particular reference to the presence of sea turtles. Ecotourism, or the idea that tourists will visit
St. Kitts/Nevis in order to partake of unspoiled natural and cultural attractions, has the potential
to generate considerable income. Indeed, this has been the basis for an ongoing WWF-funded
eco-tourism training programme by the NHCS. In St. Kitts, several reports submitted to the
Southeast Peninsula Land Development and Conservation Board prior to the construction of the
peninsular road emphasised the long-term value to the tourist industry of maintaining the
ecological integrity of the peninsula's coastal zone. According to Williams (1992), "The future
of our tourism development will depend on the extent to which the public and private sectors,
and our people understand the relationship between tourism and the environment and take the
necessary steps to ensure protection and enhancement of the natural and built environment. It is
our environment, or rather the experience and enjoyment of it, that we promote and sell."
Sea turtles could play a supporting role in the generation of tourist income. Hotels with
the foresight to plan for adequate setbacks, lighting restrictions, and pollution control; keep
recreational equipment such as lounge chairs and sailboats from cluttering the beach at night; and
resist armouring and other erosion control measures will find that sea turtles are likely to
continue nesting on their beaches. Those choosing to capitalize on this fact may want to offer
Sea Turtle Watches guided by trained naturalists, making it possible for guests to witness
egg-laying and hatching on the hotel beach. This kind of programme can be designed by
WIDECAST personnel, modeled after a successful programme in Antigua. A fee could be
charged and ear-marked for conservation activities designed to maintain the sea turtle's nesting
grounds. In addition to terrestrial attractions, local SCUBA dive professionals know that dive-
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