Development of Leatherback Ecotourism Based Initiatives in St. Kitts

Development of Leatherback Ecotourism Development of Leatherback Ecotourism ppBased Initiatives in St. Kitts, West Indies Based Initiatives in St. Kitts, West Indies

Kimberly M. Stewart, MS, DVMKimberly M. Stewart, MS, DVM

Andrew J. NibblettAndrew J. NibblettAndrew J. NibblettAndrew J. Nibblett

•• BackgroundBackgroundBackgroundBackground

•• Leatherback Ecotour Development & Leatherback Ecotour Development & ImplementationImplementationImplementationImplementation

•• Turtle Glass ProjectTurtle Glass Project

•• Business CertificationBusiness Certification

St. Kitts & NevisSt. Kitts & NevisSt. Kitts & NevisSt. Kitts & Nevis

•• Population: 42,696Population: 42,696–– St. Kitts: 31,880St. Kitts: 31,880

–– Nevis: 12,106Nevis: 12,106

•• Size: 270 sq km (104 sqSize: 270 sq km (104 sq•• Size: 270 sq km (104 sq Size: 270 sq km (104 sq mi)mi)–– St. Kitts: 180 sq km (68 sq miles)St. Kitts: 180 sq km (68 sq miles)St. Kitts: 180 sq km (68 sq miles)St. Kitts: 180 sq km (68 sq miles)

–– Nevis: 93 sq km (36 sq miles)Nevis: 93 sq km (36 sq miles)

•• Economy: Tourism Economy: Tourism

St. Kitts Nesting SpeciesSt. Kitts Nesting SpeciesChelonia mydasChelonia mydas–– July through FebruaryJuly through Februaryyy y g yy g y

Dermochelys coriacea Dermochelys coriacea –– March through JulyMarch through July

Eretmochelys imbricata Eretmochelys imbricata –– July through FebruaryJuly through February

St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring NetworkSt. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring NetworkSt. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring NetworkSt. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network

•• Founded: 2003Founded: 2003Founded: 2003Founded: 2003

•• Classification: Community based organizationClassification: Community based organization

ll bll b•• Primary Collaborators:Primary Collaborators:–– Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM)Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM)

Wid C ibb S T tl C ti N t k (WIDECAST)Wid C ibb S T tl C ti N t k (WIDECAST)–– Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST)Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST)

–– St. Kitts Fisheries DepartmentSt. Kitts Fisheries Department

–– Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC)Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC)g ( )g ( )

–– Global Environmental FacilityGlobal Environmental Facility‐‐ Small Grants Programme Small Grants Programme (UNDP GEF(UNDP GEF‐‐SGP) SGP)

St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring NetworkSt. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring NetworkSt. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring NetworkSt. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network

•• Primary objectives:Primary objectives:y jy j–– To implement, under the direction of the St. Kitts Fisheries To implement, under the direction of the St. Kitts Fisheries

department, a long standing sea turtle conservation management department, a long standing sea turtle conservation management programprogram

–– To promote community awareness of the plight of sea turtlesTo promote community awareness of the plight of sea turtles

•• Organizational Structure:Organizational Structure:•• DirectorDirectorDirectorDirector•• Volunteer CoordinatorVolunteer Coordinator•• InIn‐‐water Tagging Coordinatorwater Tagging Coordinator•• Environmental Outreach CoordinatorEnvironmental Outreach Coordinator•• TreasurerTreasurer•• Glass Project CoordinatorGlass Project Coordinator•• Sea Turtle TechniciansSea Turtle TechniciansR h A i t tR h A i t t•• Research AssistantsResearch Assistants

•• VolunteersVolunteers





Why the Need?

•• SustainabilitySustainability

Alt ti f i b dAlt ti f i b d•• Alternative source of income based on Alternative source of income based on conservation rather than harvestconservation rather than harvest

•• Protection of nesting beachesProtection of nesting beaches

•• EnforcementEnforcement

Leatherback Ecotour Leatherback Ecotour DevelopmentDevelopmentDevelopment Development

•• SurveySurveySurveySurvey–– Citizens Citizens

–– TouristsTourists

–– ResidentsResidents

•• Delivered by SKSTMN Delivered by SKSTMN yyvolunteers at hotels, volunteers at hotels, port, RUSVM, townport, RUSVM, town

Results

7.1%(n=29)

36.8%18.2%(n=74)

Female 60.3%

Male 39.7%(n=150)

37 8%37.8%(n=154)

Results

32.4% 43.3% 34.6%27.1%(n=131)

70.7%(n=191)

(n=175) (n=139)(n=110)

67 6%

(n=191)

56 7% 65 4%72 8%67.6%(n=273)

29.2%(n=79)

56.7% (n=229)

65.4%(n=263)

72.8%(n=295)

Results

77.3%

47.1%(n=192)

58.5%(n=238)

56.7% (n=229)

83.2%(n=338)

(n=312)

52 9% 28 2% 22 7%52.9%(n=215)

41.5%(n=169)

28.2%(n=115)

16.8%(n=68)

22.7%(n=92)

ResultsResults•• Question 1: no difference by classification(p=0.2)Question 1: no difference by classification(p=0.2)

•• Question 2: significant difference by classification(p=0.0001) Question 2: significant difference by classification(p=0.0001) with tourists being significantly less likely to know turtles were with tourists being significantly less likely to know turtles were

d ( 6 % 2 / 9) d i h i i (6 9% 0/ )d ( 6 % 2 / 9) d i h i i (6 9% 0/ )around (16.7%; 25/149) compared with citizens (64.9%; 50/77) around (16.7%; 25/149) compared with citizens (64.9%; 50/77) and residents (89.6%; 138/154)and residents (89.6%; 138/154)

•• Question 3: significant difference by classification(p=0.0001) Question 3: significant difference by classification(p=0.0001) with tourists being significantly less likely to know network with tourists being significantly less likely to know network exists ( 8/120) compared with citizens (34/72) and residents exists ( 8/120) compared with citizens (34/72) and residents (26/49)(26/49)

ResultsResults•• Question 4: residents significantly more likely to go than Question 4: residents significantly more likely to go than

tourists (p=0.003); however, majority of tourists say yes (62.7%) tourists (p=0.003); however, majority of tourists say yes (62.7%) (p ); , j y y y ( )(p ); , j y y y ( )•• Tourists: Yes: 62.7% (94/150)Tourists: Yes: 62.7% (94/150)

•• Citizens: Yes: 68.4% (50/73)Citizens: Yes: 68.4% (50/73)

•• Residents Yes: 85.6% (131/153) Residents Yes: 85.6% (131/153)

•• Question 5: Majority of all groups willing to pay:Question 5: Majority of all groups willing to pay:Q j y g p g p yQ j y g p g p y•• Tourists: Yes: 64% (96/150)Tourists: Yes: 64% (96/150)

•• Citizens: Yes: 64.4% (47/73)Citizens: Yes: 64.4% (47/73)

•• Residents Yes: 67.3% (103/153)Residents Yes: 67.3% (103/153)

St. Kitts Pilot Tour PackageSt. Kitts Pilot Tour PackageSt. Kitts Pilot Tour PackageSt. Kitts Pilot Tour Package•• 10 individuals/beach/night10 individuals/beach/night

•• Informational PacketInformational Packet

•• 1 local non1 local non‐‐alcoholic beveragealcoholic beverage

•• 40 US per person40 US per person•• Transport Transport –– 11US11US

•• Advertised locally Advertised locally

•• 299 tours conducted for the 299 tours conducted for the 2009 pilot season2009 pilot season

•• 202 tourists 202 tourists

•• 83 residents 83 residents

•• 14 citizens14 citizens•• 14 citizens14 citizens





Turtle Glass ProjectTurtle Glass Project

•• WIDECAST AGM WIDECAST AGM 2006 2006

•• Site Visit Site Visit December 2008December 2008

•• Sensitization Sensitization February 2009February 2009

•• Training InitiationTraining InitiationMarch 2009March 2009

Workshop

25

St. Kitts Adoption PackageSt. Kitts Adoption Package

•• Information PacketInformation Packet

•• Adoption CertificateAdoption Certificate

•• End of Season SummaryEnd of Season Summaryyy

•• GiftGift





Business CertificationBusiness CertificationBusiness CertificationBusiness Certification

•• Establishments in close proximity to nesting Establishments in close proximity to nesting beachesbeachesbeachesbeaches

•• VoluntaryVoluntary

•• InspectionInspection

•• SignageSignage

•• Tourist NotificationTourist Notification

•• Annual AwardAnnual Award•• Annual AwardAnnual Award

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements•• Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM)Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM)

•• Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST)Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST)

•• St. Kitts Fisheries DepartmentSt. Kitts Fisheries Department

( )( )•• Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC)Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC)

•• Global Environmental FacilityGlobal Environmental Facility‐‐ Small Grants Programme Small Grants Programme (UNDP GEF(UNDP GEF‐‐SGP)SGP)(UNDP GEF(UNDP GEF‐‐SGP) SGP)

•• Silver ReefSilver Reef

Documents

Development of Leatherback Ecotourism Based Initiatives in St. Kitts