It was the occasion of the annual presentation of the Native Oceans Award, which is sponsored by the non-profit Ocean Revolution and was bestowed on Grupo Tortuguero Comcåac, an organization taking part in a community-wide plan created by a collaborative of Seri Indian elders and youth that combines traditional teaching and modern technology to meet socio-economic, cultural, political and environmental challenges.

The award recognizes a person or a community group for making a significant contribution toward a sustainable future through preserving and nurturing relationships with the sea, collaborating globally, and working to fortify the values necessary for maintaining cultural identity.

Working quietly outside the spotlight until now, the participants of Grupo Tortuguero Comcåac have done just that. Their name, translated, means Seri Turtle Protection Group. The Seri Indians have long been stewards of unique marine and coastal biodiversity in Sonora state and the Gulf of California.

They are among the darlings of the sea turtle rescue movement, because unlike many other constituencies they have maintained an awareness that traditional lifestyle depends on living in harmony with all the elements of the environment.

The tortugueros, from the Spanish word for sea turtle, have created autonomous and collaborative monitoring and enforcement practices enabling them to effectively restrict access to their communities´ commercial fisheries. That is no small feat in the face of current pressures on fishing resources and lack of funding for compliance measures.

In addition, the tortugueros have reached out to the broader conservation community, sharing their knowledge and seeking advice on using new technologies to implement their plan of protection. This is also difficult, not in the least measure due to centuries of mistrust dating back to colonization.

BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE

Perhaps most importantly they serve as the bridge between the traditional knowledge that provided the strength to defend their territorial, cultural and environmental integrity in the past and the educational needs of younger generations that must tackle the challenges of a precarious future.

Young Seris Romelia Barnett, Mayra Estrella, Gabriel Hoeffer, José Luis López, Erika Molina and Ignacio Romero are among community leaders who are speaking out to save sea turtles and their own culture. They are making available computer, video, and digital communications technology and the latest marine science to help peers in their highly isolated settlements integrate time-tested practices and ceremonies with state-of- the-art techniques.

Mexico´s coastlines are landings for seven of the world´s eight species of sea turtles. The species have survived against great odds for 200 million years, since the age of the dinosaurs. Their nests contain an average of about 100 eggs, but only one or two hatchlings reach adulthood. The defenseless young fall prey to predators and pollution.

Humans historically have consumed sea turtle meat, used the skin for clothing articles, carved the shell for ornamental and utilitarian purposes, and prized the eggs for supposed aphrodisiac attributes. The cultural significance of the marine animal is patent in the ancestral sea turtle dances and ceremonies of Seris and other indigenous peoples.

Mass marketing of turtle products in Mexico began in the 1960s. It led to a decree banning turtle trade in 1990. But clandestine enterprises still promote the marketing and consumption of sea turtle products. And all the species remain in danger of extinction.

Seri and other community participation in monitoring specimens and in enforcement of protection measures is paramount because at least four of the species already are considered ecologically extinct. That means their populations have fallen below levels needed to serve useful roles in their ecosystems. Indigenous and local vigilance has helped protect olive ridley sea turtle nesting sites and establish that its population is showing strong signs of recovery.

Mexico can be proud of Grupo Tortuguero Comcåac, and you can bet the organization will be on the front lines when this country has the honor of hosting the international tortugueros meeting in 2008.

Talli Nauman is a founder and co-director of Journalism to Raise Environmental Awareness, a project initiated with support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. (talli@hughes.net)