Open-Cycle Hatcheries, Tourism and Conservation of Sea Turtles: Economic and Ecological Analysis

Considers the role that tourism-based sea turtle-hatcheries can play in conserving populations of sea turtles by combining economic analysis of markets with ecological parameters. Background is provided on the nature and development of such hatcheries in developing countries, giving particular attention to Sri Lanka. The modelling provided helps with the assessment of the impacts of turtle hatcheries on the conservation of sea turtles and enables ecological consequences of tourism, based on such hatcheries, to be better appreciated than in the absence of such modelling. The results demonstrate that sea turtle hatcheries that operate for tourist purposes can make a positive contribution to sea turtle conservation, but this depends on the manner in which they are conducted. Possible negative effects are also identified