KARUMBÉ EDUCATIONAL PROJECT: AN APPROACH TO FISHING COMMUNITIES

Antonia Bauzá & Anita Aisemberg

C.I.D., Proyecto Karumbé, Tortugas Marinas del Uruguay

J. Paullier 1198/101, Montevideo, Uruguay, karumbe@adinet.com.uy Karumbé has been working since 1999 on the review and conservation of the sea turtles of Uruguay. The facts show that frequently turtles are trapped in fishermen nets, and occasionally they are processed, eaten and their carapaces are sold. Taking this into account and for protecting these ancient reptiles which ply our seas, we consider essential an educational programme. During 2002, Karumbé made a preliminary survey on twelve locations of the coastline, along a total of 530 km (‘Río de la Plata’ estuary and Atlantic Ocean), working with children and fishermen of our most important fishing communities. Our objective was to make the local people aware of the present situation of the sea turtles, as well as collecting the necessary information for designing an Educational Project for the critical areas. In this first evaluation, we discovered a great interest on the topic, both by children and adults. We also registered that some children of the studied areas do not attend to their school classes, but they are very receptive to learning about these animals, children who sometimes have seen the turtles alive or dead trapped in a net or as part of a meal. We consider possible and necessary, according to our findings, to continue and extend the activities on critical areas, promoting the cooperative work with the fishermen and their families, with children transmitting the message of the pressing need of a new future for the sea turtles.

Historias y poemas de niños uruguayos que viven en la costa (La lengua materna en el Uruguay es el español y al segunda es el ingles) The Fisherman and his friend Once upon a time in a fishing village there was a fisherman. He was not nice with the fish but with the turtles he was very good. He loved the Leatherback Turtles! One day when he was at the sea, the boat started moving from one place to the other like as if something big was under…perhaps a whale. He fell down to the water. He was very nervous at the beginning but then he saw it was a turtle, a Leatherback Turtle. The turtle was very nice. They swam together a lot, and a lot but when they realized it was very late at night, and the turtle asked the man to stay in his house to rest. So, they went home. The fisherman realized that the turtle was pregnant. He helped her to lay the eggs and she thanked him a lot and said that she would never forget him. Two months later the babies were born and went happily to the sea, saying goodbye to the fisherman who looked at them with the eyes full of tears. Emiliano Cornalino, 11 years old My Green Turtle When she was very small, she survived to the crabs and seagulls. In the water she also survived to sharks and all the animals that eat turtles. But one day, while this special turtle was eating, she was trapped in a net. She could manage to escape but she hurt herself. She was ill. She decided to go to the beach. There she found some people who helped her and that was were I met the animal who changed my life.

As the turtle did not look well, I took her to my swimming pool. The first day she was very shy but the second day she went from here to there. I called her ‘Joaquina’. A very sad but happy day was when it was time to free Joaquina. We went to the ‘Playa Brava’ and I let my dearest friend go. I was very sad because I thought that I would never see my friend again.

The following summer I traveled to Brazil for my holidays. One night, I was walking at the beach and I see the figure of a turtle. She was laying her eggs. I went very slowly and to my surprise, Joaquina was there. I could not believe that she was going to be a mother!

Life goes like this. Being with Joaquina was the best thing that happened to me. She taught me about life, braveness and the necessity of freedom. I will never forget her.

Natalia Nóbile, 11 years old

The Turtles’ Poem Turtles lay their eggs They are all in the sand For two months and some days They just sleep for a while Then they go out To the deep blue sea They stay in a safe place And then into the open sea They grow up In the dangerous ocean Find a mate and give birth To beautiful hatchlings who can Go and be free, free as the sun Luca Daniele, 12 years old Kevin, the purple Turtle Kevin, the purple turtle Swims and swims He can’ t stop Because a turtle he is Kevin, Kevin, Never stop swimming Please do not stop If you do I will cry and cry

Cause Kevin Children know The purple swimmer Is Kevin the winner All the children should save the turtles that surf on the wave Happiness in the sea, In Kevin’ s heart and in me. Anwar Martínez, 12 years old