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