Science and sustainable use: views of marine turtle conservation experts

Sustainable use is central to contemporary conservation policy as espoused by many of the major wildlife conservation organizations and is one indicator of a shift in policy away from exclusionary practices restricting access toward more inclusive ones that involve some form of resource use. As with many policies, sustainable use in theory may encounter problems in transition to practice. Problems arise based on the biology of the species or system in question and on the dynamics of the economic, social, political, and cultural systems that guide or regulate use. As a result of these problems, and of other moral and philosophical objections, opponents of applying the concept of sustainable use to wildlife are many. Based on in‐depth interviews conducted with 38 conservation experts in 1995, this paper examines the views of a specific group of conservation experts (those interested in marine turtle biology and/or conservation) on the commercial consumptive use of marine turtles and their eggs. Results reveal a variety of positions on use, all of which were justified on scientific grounds. Key characteristics distinguishing between interviewees were how they dealt with uncertainty and their assumptions about economics and commerce. While denying the role of “other” issues in influencing their own opinions, experts saw opposing views as influenced by emotions. Beyond the immediate world of marine turtle conservation, results presented and conclusions reached may be indicative of the wider challenges posed by commercial use of wildlife, regardless of the species in question.

Duke Scholars

Author Lisa Campbell Marine Science and Conservation