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Ada year six of the seven Species of sea turtles that exist, come to spawn in sites located in the more than 11 thousand kilometers of coastal strip of Mexico. It is the green turtle ( Chelonia Mydas), the golf ( Lepidochelys Olivacea), La Caguama ( CARETTA CARETTA), The Carey ( Imbricata eretmochelys), La Lora ( L. Kempii) and the lute ( Dermochelys Coriacea). For tens of millions of years, they have managed to survive and adapt to the change processes registered on the planet. And something no less important: they achieve it despite the depredation made by the human being.
45 years ago I documented in several reports published by the newspaper Unomásunothe killing of hundreds of turtles that came to spawn on the coasts of southern Oaxaca. It was carried out by groups of colluded fishermen with whom they were in charge of selling their meat, eggs and caparazones. And everything under the shadow of official corruption. Fortunately, and thanks to the works of the academic community, citizen groups and authorities, turtles have been enjoying more protection for half a century.
However, it does not mean that they are out of danger. That the places where they spawn are in good condition and not invaded by public or individual works, especially the tourism sector. And that their spawning sites are not looted to sell the eggs of the turtles for consumption in homes or in restaurants. An example: on June 25, before citizen criticism, Agustín Elías Ramírez Sánchez, Director of Climate Change of the Oaxaca Ministry of Environment was ceased. The official exhibited on social networks the dish that consumed: boiled turtle eggs. Accompanied the food with mezcal.
It should be noted that the consumption, sale or collection of turtle eggs is a crime sanctioned with sentences of up to nine years in jail and considerable fines. But Ramírez Sánchez did not receive any. Nor who provided that meal. In addition, the six species of quelonios that come to spawn our coastlines are legally protected by the Mexican government. It is an enormous effort in which the academic sector linked to the marine environment and its species, greater government intervention to guarantee biodiversity and comply with agreements established by the community of nations have joined will and knowledge. To them are added the important tasks that in favor of conservation carry out numerous social and fishermen organizations.
But, as demonstrated in the recent number of The ecological daysea turtles in Mexico face numerous problems. They detail it with their contributions 10 specialists in the subject. His works were coordinated by Dr. Eduardo Cuevas, of the Institute of Oceanological Research of the Autonomous University of Baja California. In this institution, as well as at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the University of Guerrero, the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas and several social organizations, these participants work.
In their texts they address the most important aspects of the ecology of sea turtles, the impacts that human activities cause with greater intensity on their places of nesting and food. And especially this century, the effects of climate change. Dr. Cuevas adds a series of specific threats. This is the case of emerging diseases, such as fibropapiloma, which constitute recent challenges for their health and conservation.
A prominent aspect by the researchers is related to the need to monitor on a larger scale everything related to the turtles and the role they play in the marine environment and in the coastal strip where they come to spawn. To this is added the need to establish a better and timely coordination between the governmental instances responsible for guaranteeing the good state of the six species that visit Mexico, with the academic sectors that study them, the riverside communities and the civil society groups that seek to protect the quelonios.
A slope: public resources for the monitoring, study and care of turtles. The last sexenios were insufficient. In the current one too.
