Marine turtles of Brazil: the history and structure of Projeto TAMAR-IBAMA

Projeto TAMAR-IBAMA, jointly administered by the Government of Brazil and the non-governmental organization Fundacao Pro-TAMAR, has established 18 conservation stations which cover 1100 km of the Brazilian mainland coast tin the states of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo, Bahia, Sergipe, and Ceara. In the oceanic islands of Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, and Trindade, only the first has a permanently staffed station. The program was initiated in 1980 to investigate and implement a program for the conservation of sea turtles. As a direct result of TAMAR's efforts, the harvest of gravid females and of eggs has ceased in all major nesting areas. The success of the program is based on local participation of the fishing villages, including the employment of former egg poachers to patrol the beaches and protect the nests, education programs, and ecotourism. The majority of stations are staffed year round and not only promote the conservation of endangered sea turtles, but also organize community festivals, support local schools and health care facilities, and assist in developing alternative sources of income for residents who once relied on the exploitation of sea turtles. A similar effort to protect coastal feeding areas where incidental capture is high was initiated in 1991. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.