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

Projeto TAMAR-IBAMA, jointly administered by the Government of Brazil and the non-governmental organization Fundação Pró-TAMAR, has established 18 conservation stations which cover 1100 km of the Brazilian mainland coast (in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Sergipe, and Ceará). 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 TAMARʹs 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.