Since 1971, the French Polynesian government has acquired the human resources and legal tools necessary for the protection of marine turtles: The Polynesian sea turtles observatory was created.
But it remains difficult to enforce the law in such a large territory (4 million square kilometers, or about the size of Europe). All species of marine turtles in Polynesian waters are protected. The time when turtles are most vulnerable is the laying period that begins in October and ends in March. There are 5 species of turtles in French Polynesia. The egg-laying sites are the islands of Tupai, Scilly, Bellingshausen, Mopelia and Tetiaroa.
In Tahiti and her islands, turtles are threatened by the scarcity of nesting sites (isolated beaches are fewer in number than in the past) and poaching that unfortunately, continues although it is strictly forbidden to hunt turtles or to consume and market their flesh. Therefore, they trusted that if the turtles could keep on moving freely between land and sea, there would still be guides to lead them one day to the world of eternal rest … Thus, the Polynesians of the ancient times believed that the sea (which their survival was entirely dependent upon) was the “beyond” and the “afterlife”.
The ancient Polynesians also saw in turtles some navigators inspired by the gods and even guides to the “world of beyond” this because the tortoise represents the link between the earth (that symbolizes humans) and the sea (that symbolizes the “other world” and the “afterlife”). Moreover, in the culture of our islands, the tortoise (“honu” in the Maohi language) symbolizes peace of mind, family harmony and fertility. In the Polynesian culture, marine turtles are emblematic of the incredible biodiversity of our waters: If turtles return to us each year to frequent our lagoons, then it is considered that the ocean and the fauna that inhabit it are still in good health. Turtles often are at the heart of many legends and they attract both sympathy and empathy. In Tahiti and her islands, the marine turtle is affectively ingrained in the collective imagination. But the adults we have become, also want the marine turtles to survive … And this is not only because we recall our children’s’ dreams in which turtles played the role of some unforgettable personages: It is mainly because our consciousness as responsible adults, leads us to ardently wish effective protection of the marine environment and endangered species, along with radical condemnation of the cruelty, inhumanity and irresponsibility of poaching of which turtles are still victims, just like other species … The stories and tales we read in our childhoods’ days certainly helped to shape this perception and affection to the specie. It is undoubtedly our imagination and what remains in us of our past children’s sensitivity that lead us to consider the marine turtles with so much sympathy. Protection and sustainable management of marine ecosystems in Tahiti and her Islands – French Polynesia offers an oceanic sanctuary of 4 million square kilometers to its emblematic marine turtles, formerly said to have the power to guide the souls to the afterlife:Īround the world, sea turtles are regarded endearing and vulnerable, just like dolphins and whales.