Development of Leatherback Ecotourism Development of Leatherback Ecotourism Based Initiatives in St. Kitts, West Indies Based Initiatives in St. Kitts, West Indies Kimberly M. Stewart, MS, DVM Kimberly M. Stewart, MS, DVM Andrew J. Nibblett Andrew J. Nibblett Andrew J. Nibblett Andrew J. Nibblett
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Development of Leatherback Ecotourism Based Initiatives in St. Kitts
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Development of Leatherback Ecotourism Development of Leatherback Ecotourism ppBased Initiatives in St. Kitts, West Indies Based Initiatives in St. Kitts, West Indies
Kimberly M. Stewart, MS, DVMKimberly M. Stewart, MS, DVM
Andrew J. NibblettAndrew J. NibblettAndrew J. NibblettAndrew J. Nibblett
•• BackgroundBackgroundBackgroundBackground
•• Leatherback Ecotour Development & Leatherback Ecotour Development & ImplementationImplementationImplementationImplementation
•• Turtle Glass ProjectTurtle Glass Project
•• Business CertificationBusiness Certification
St. Kitts & NevisSt. Kitts & NevisSt. Kitts & NevisSt. Kitts & Nevis
•• Population: 42,696Population: 42,696–– St. Kitts: 31,880St. Kitts: 31,880
–– Nevis: 12,106Nevis: 12,106
•• Size: 270 sq km (104 sqSize: 270 sq km (104 sq•• Size: 270 sq km (104 sq Size: 270 sq km (104 sq mi)mi)–– St. Kitts: 180 sq km (68 sq miles)St. Kitts: 180 sq km (68 sq miles)St. Kitts: 180 sq km (68 sq miles)St. Kitts: 180 sq km (68 sq miles)
–– Nevis: 93 sq km (36 sq miles)Nevis: 93 sq km (36 sq miles)
•• Economy: Tourism Economy: Tourism
St. Kitts Nesting SpeciesSt. Kitts Nesting SpeciesChelonia mydasChelonia mydas–– July through FebruaryJuly through Februaryyy y g yy g y
Dermochelys coriacea Dermochelys coriacea –– March through JulyMarch through July
Eretmochelys imbricata Eretmochelys imbricata –– July through FebruaryJuly through February
•• Classification: Community based organizationClassification: Community based organization
ll bll b•• Primary Collaborators:Primary Collaborators:–– Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM)Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM)
Wid C ibb S T tl C ti N t k (WIDECAST)Wid C ibb S T tl C ti N t k (WIDECAST)–– Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST)Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST)
–– St. Kitts Fisheries DepartmentSt. Kitts Fisheries Department
–– Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC)Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC)g ( )g ( )
–– Global Environmental FacilityGlobal Environmental Facility‐‐ Small Grants Programme Small Grants Programme (UNDP GEF(UNDP GEF‐‐SGP) SGP)
•• Primary objectives:Primary objectives:y jy j–– To implement, under the direction of the St. Kitts Fisheries To implement, under the direction of the St. Kitts Fisheries
department, a long standing sea turtle conservation management department, a long standing sea turtle conservation management programprogram
–– To promote community awareness of the plight of sea turtlesTo promote community awareness of the plight of sea turtles
•• Organizational Structure:Organizational Structure:•• DirectorDirectorDirectorDirector•• Volunteer CoordinatorVolunteer Coordinator•• InIn‐‐water Tagging Coordinatorwater Tagging Coordinator•• Environmental Outreach CoordinatorEnvironmental Outreach Coordinator•• TreasurerTreasurer•• Glass Project CoordinatorGlass Project Coordinator•• Sea Turtle TechniciansSea Turtle TechniciansR h A i t tR h A i t t•• Research AssistantsResearch Assistants
•• VolunteersVolunteers
•• BackgroundBackgroundBackgroundBackground
•• Leatherback Ecotour Development & Leatherback Ecotour Development & ImplementationImplementationImplementationImplementation
•• Turtle Glass ProjectTurtle Glass Project
•• Business CertificationBusiness Certification
Why the Need?
•• SustainabilitySustainability
Alt ti f i b dAlt ti f i b d•• Alternative source of income based on Alternative source of income based on conservation rather than harvestconservation rather than harvest
•• Protection of nesting beachesProtection of nesting beaches
•• EnforcementEnforcement
Leatherback Ecotour Leatherback Ecotour DevelopmentDevelopmentDevelopment Development
•• SurveySurveySurveySurvey–– Citizens Citizens
–– TouristsTourists
–– ResidentsResidents
•• Delivered by SKSTMN Delivered by SKSTMN yyvolunteers at hotels, volunteers at hotels, port, RUSVM, townport, RUSVM, town
Results
7.1%(n=29)
36.8%18.2%(n=74)
Female 60.3%
Male 39.7%(n=150)
37 8%37.8%(n=154)
Results
32.4% 43.3% 34.6%27.1%(n=131)
70.7%(n=191)
(n=175) (n=139)(n=110)
67 6%
(n=191)
56 7% 65 4%72 8%67.6%(n=273)
29.2%(n=79)
56.7% (n=229)
65.4%(n=263)
72.8%(n=295)
Results
77.3%
47.1%(n=192)
58.5%(n=238)
56.7% (n=229)
83.2%(n=338)
(n=312)
52 9% 28 2% 22 7%52.9%(n=215)
41.5%(n=169)
28.2%(n=115)
16.8%(n=68)
22.7%(n=92)
ResultsResults•• Question 1: no difference by classification(p=0.2)Question 1: no difference by classification(p=0.2)
•• Question 2: significant difference by classification(p=0.0001) Question 2: significant difference by classification(p=0.0001) with tourists being significantly less likely to know turtles were with tourists being significantly less likely to know turtles were
d ( 6 % 2 / 9) d i h i i (6 9% 0/ )d ( 6 % 2 / 9) d i h i i (6 9% 0/ )around (16.7%; 25/149) compared with citizens (64.9%; 50/77) around (16.7%; 25/149) compared with citizens (64.9%; 50/77) and residents (89.6%; 138/154)and residents (89.6%; 138/154)
•• Question 3: significant difference by classification(p=0.0001) Question 3: significant difference by classification(p=0.0001) with tourists being significantly less likely to know network with tourists being significantly less likely to know network exists ( 8/120) compared with citizens (34/72) and residents exists ( 8/120) compared with citizens (34/72) and residents (26/49)(26/49)
ResultsResults•• Question 4: residents significantly more likely to go than Question 4: residents significantly more likely to go than
tourists (p=0.003); however, majority of tourists say yes (62.7%) tourists (p=0.003); however, majority of tourists say yes (62.7%) (p ); , j y y y ( )(p ); , j y y y ( )•• Tourists: Yes: 62.7% (94/150)Tourists: Yes: 62.7% (94/150)
•• Question 5: Majority of all groups willing to pay:Question 5: Majority of all groups willing to pay:Q j y g p g p yQ j y g p g p y•• Tourists: Yes: 64% (96/150)Tourists: Yes: 64% (96/150)
St. Kitts Pilot Tour PackageSt. Kitts Pilot Tour PackageSt. Kitts Pilot Tour PackageSt. Kitts Pilot Tour Package•• 10 individuals/beach/night10 individuals/beach/night
•• Informational PacketInformational Packet
•• 1 local non1 local non‐‐alcoholic beveragealcoholic beverage
•• 40 US per person40 US per person•• Transport Transport –– 11US11US
•• Advertised locally Advertised locally
•• 299 tours conducted for the 299 tours conducted for the 2009 pilot season2009 pilot season