Conservation and use of the Hawksbill Turtle ? public valuation and attitudes: an Australian case study

Abstract

Managing Hawksbill Turtle Eretmochelys Imbricata populations for use and conservation requires (i) adequate scientific understanding of their population status and dynamics and (ii) consideration of the public's attitudes to this species. This study employs sample surveys to assess the Australian public's attitudes towards the Hawksbill Turtle, their knowledge of it, their views about its sustainable commercial harvesting, and their willingness to pay for the species' conservation. Contingent valuation reveals that the sample's willingness to contribute to the conservation of the Hawksbill Turtle rose relative to other reptile species when respondents were better informed, and that it is high in comparison to selected threatened Australian bird and mammal fauna. Most of this stated contribution is based on the intrinsic (non-use) value associated with this turtle. The Australian public probably will only accept harvesting of the Hawksbill Turtle if its sustalnability is assured and its population is considered to be more secure. The CITES categorization of the Hawksbill as an Appendix I species hampers the development of techniques for its sustainable use.