Ostional Egg Harvest Project, Costa Rica
Case Study C0085
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| Date | 1995 |
| Donor/support agency | Wildlife Directorate of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE), Costa Rica Institute of Marine Fisheries (INCOPESCA) Association of Rural Economic Development (DINADECO) |
| Project type | Self implemented |
| Context(s) | Protected area |
| Geographic coverage | Costa Rica |
| Locality | Ostional, Province of Guanacaste |
| Biodiversity focus | Species |
| Development focus | Specific village |
| Conservation goals | Protect eight species of marine turtles (particularly olive ridleys) nesting at Ostional Wildlife Refuge |
| Poverty reduction goals | Decrease poverty in Ostional by exploting the potential of turtle eggs as a source of income |
Summary
Ostional was designated a protected area in 1981, and declared a wildlife refuge in 1983. The main conservation goal of the Refuge is to protect eight species of nesting marine turtles, particualry olive ridleys. Within the Refuge, an 800 m stretch of beach acts as an olive ridley 'arribada' (arrival in Spanish) beach. During arribada, olive ridleys congregate for mass nesting. Arribadas at Ostional occur more or less monthly, with some months missed during the dry season, and with sometimes more than one arribada per month during the wet season. While mass nesting are designed to swamp predators and increase the chances of individual survive, the density and frequency of nesting events in Ostional is so high it undermines the overall productivity. The evidence of low hatchling success rates at Ostional was a key argument in favour of a legalized harvest.
The population of Ostional (approximately amounting to 390 people) has collected turtle eggs, which are considered a source of protein and an aphrodisiac, for a very long time. Efforts to prohibit egg harvesting at Ostional in order to conserve the turtles were made in the 1970s, however, the extreme poverty and the inadequacy of law enforcement made these attempts ineffective, and only promoted illegal harvesting. Most local people soon became unhappy with illegal harvest, a chaotic activity which saw individuals struggling to get the most eggs in the shortest time possible, and which resulted in an unequal distribution of benefits. Thus, in 1981, a small group of residents formed a committee determined to legalize egg harvest. In 1983, Law 6919 allowed for a limited, commercial sale of animal products from the Refuge, provided that: a) scientific studies justfied use; b) community members formed a legal development association. Soon after that, the 'Integrated Development Association of Ostional' was formed. The Association is in charge of the day to day running of the Ostional Egg Harvest project.
Under the legal harvest, approximately 20-30% of the eggs laid are harvested in the dry season, and 3-15% in the wet season, much less than the number of eggs harvested before legalization. Once harvested, eggs are packaged on the beach, and clearly labelled, since another objective of the project is to undermine the black market for turtle eggs at the national level. Eggs are then distributed nationally by the Association.
As part of the project, associates undertake activities to help ensure the long-term presence of the turtles (e.g. collection of garbage from the beach, escort hatchlings to the surf, discourage illegal harvesting, etc.) Profits from egg harvesting are divided as follows. Firstly, 40% of profits are paid to the government (INCOPESCA). 30% of the remaining profits are used to cover Association operating-expenses and to finance community projects. All associates are paid equally for hours worked on the beach from the remaining profits. Project profits are also used to purchase food for the health and nutrition centre, which provides hot lunches for school-age children, and the Association paid for the extension of electricity to Ostional in 1993.
Conservation impact
The project contributed directly to wildlife conservation through both paid and voluntary conservation activities. Under the legal harvest, approximately 20-30% of the eggs laid are harvested in the dry season, and 3-15% in the wet season, much less than the number of eggs harvested before legalization. As part of the project, associates undertake activities to help ensure the long-term presence of the turtles, like: collection of garbage from the beach, escort hatchlings to the surf, discourage illegal harvesting, etc.
Poverty reduction impact
The project provided secure and significant economic benefits to local people and egg harvesting is now the most important economic activity in Ostional. Profits from egg harvesting are divided as follows. Firstly, 40% of profits are paid to the government (INCOPESCA). 30% of the remaining profits are used to cover Association operating-expenses and to finance community projects. All associates are paid equally for hours worked on the beach from the remaining profits. Project profits are also used to purchase food for the health and nutrition centre, which provides hot lunches for school-age children, and the Association paid for the extension of electricity to Ostional in 1993.
Strategy for Conservation/Poverty Linkages
Revenue sharing
Devolution or reinstatement of local rights over/access to resources
Sustainable Use
Reference 1
Campbell, L.M., 1998, 'Use Them or Lose Them: Conservation and the Consumptive Use of Marine Turtle Eggs at Ostional, Costa Rica', Environmental Conservation 25(4): 305-19
More information
http://www.costarica-nationalparks.com/ostionalwildliferefuge.html
http://ostionalcr.tripod.com/info/pdf/ost_en.pdf