Pro Surfer photo - riding on turtle's back to raise awareness - causes controversy instead

[Liberal_in_LA]

leave that turtle alone!



North Shore pro surfer Jamie O’Brien is apparently very concerned about the spread of fibropapillomatosis among sea turtles, but since the online posting last week of the photo at right, in which he seems to be riding one of the creatures, he’s also been riding a wave of controversy. Not only may O’Brien have violated state and federal laws against harassing sea turtles, he violated the sensibilities of those who consider the Hawaiian honu to be an ‘aumakua (a kind of ancestral guardian spirit) — if not their family’s ‘aumakua — and countless more concerned by the likelihood of clueless visitors imitating his stunt.

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I’m inclined to believe that O’Brien planned to raise awareness with the riding photo, which appears to have been professionally shot by Brent Bielmann. Yet I’m still dismayed by it. Yes, I know Hawaiians used to eat sea turtles, and puppies, for that matter, but cultures do change: As one Native Hawaiian woman on Kaua‘i told me, “We used to eat turtle soup, and it was delicious, but we didn’t know then that they were dying out.” And sometimes cultures don’t change: Whether or not you believe in ‘aumakua, it’s good to show respect to those who do when you’re in their home.

Moreover, whether or not that particular turtle was physically harmed, holding one underwater, however briefly, seems cruelly stress-inducing. And the potential for imitation shouldn’t be minimized. At marine reserves and volunteer-monitored beaches in Hawai’i, you’ll usually see signs against disturbing marine life and reefs. But on nearly every trip to a popular snorkeling area (including last month’s visit to Kahalu‘u on the Big Island), I’ve seen someone standing on reefs and heard someone boast how close they got to a turtle. Sure, they sometimes swim right up to you — I once had a sea turtle unexpectedly graze my legs from behind in the Hilton Waikoloa lagoon, and long ago was encircled by three swimming near “Turtle Town” off Maui — but that just means you stay still or move away. You don’t touch the turtle, and you certainly don’t ride it.

Of course, more suggestive interpretations of what O’Brien appears to be doing with the turtle exist (though I note the rider has his swim trunks on) — please don’t do that, either. Although the caption for his blog photo of a turtle with bulging fibropapilloma includes the phrase “unknown cause, unknown cure,” his Oct. 28 post on Twitter was more explicit: “Lesson 4 Today: Heavy petting with turtles may lead to fortuitous relations with the reptile… & the forever disease.”

http://blog.sfgate.com/hawaii/2011/11/01/surfers-turtle-riding-photo-raises-more-controversy-than-awareness/?tsp=1

[joeybee12]

1. Well, hopefully the controversy will lead to awarness...nt

[ZombieHorde]

2. Compared to what happens to chickens, cows, and pigs in the US, that is extremely tame.

Lobsters are boiled alive all over the country, but people are worried about a guy ridding a turtle? I really don't understand this.

[catbyte]

3. Lame, dude, lame.

Aren't sea turtles protected?

[ZombieHorde]

5. If you have a coherent argument to make, then make one. nt

[catbyte]

7. I was referring to the guy riding the turtle, not you, ZombieHorde.

[ZombieHorde]

15. Well, that makes more sense. Sorry. nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. I don't eat meat so I can be outraged by this.

[ZombieHorde]

14. Why would you be outraged by a turtle not getting hurt? nt

[wickerwoman]

10. So therefore everything up to that point of cruelty is no big deal?

Are you another advocate of the "it's only possible to be concerned about one thing ever so choose a huge one" school of thought?

Hey compared to Nazi Germany, what happens to chickens, cows and pigs is extremely tame! At least we eat the animals!

Compared to the number of people who have died of malaria in history, Nazi Germany is no big deal! Anyone who isn't dedicating their entire life to eradicating this disease is just a mixed-up dilettante at best and a suspiciously racist poser at worst.

It's incomprehensible to me how anyone could spare a moment's thought or concern for anything else.

[ZombieHorde]

11. The turtle wasn't harmed. Nothing bad happened. nt

[Blue_Tires]

4. I guess I've got mixed feelings...

1. Until this moment I'd never heard of fibropapillomatosis, so the coverage of this stunt did at least increases public awareness

2. I agree that the turtle probably didn't like it and this photo may inspire a lot of thrill-seeking jackasses to try the same thing

3. Aren't turtles pretty fast swimmers? How exactly do you catch one (and then stay on)?

[Lance_Boyle]

9. No, they don't swim terribly fast.

A diver can keep up but the depth changes make it risky to do so. A free diver can keep up for a photo op like the guy at the center of the "controversy" without gas regulation worries.

The turtle in the photo is not harmed by being "kept under" for the photo, so that's not a concern. They hold air for much longer than people. It's exactly like someone being concerned about a dolphin being held under water. There is precisely one instance in which it might be harmful - the creature has been submerged too long and is in emergency ascent mode to get more air. The odds of that being the case in the photo in question are somewhere in the vicinity of 0 to 1. The harassment angle is more relevant. You shouldn't fuck with them if you want to keep seeing them. But the media squawking over this is not about harassment. It's about a slight against native folklore. Which is absurd.

[truebrit71]

8. I was fortunate enough to go to Hawaii this summer, and whilst minding my own business...

...puttering about in the ocean about 25-30 feet off the beach I was amazed to see a turtle surface not more then 4 feet from me...he/she swam around me for a good forty-five minutes before leaving...truly an awesome experience..

[Arugula Latte]

12. There are quite a few places in Hawaii that have "local" sea turtles who hang out with people

For a long time there were two that lived near the rocks off the beach at the Sheraton on Kaanapali, for example, and they seemed to enjoy the snorkelers. They might still be there. I think they are highly intelligent animals.

[ellisonz]

13. No fine - but please leave the wildlife alone!

Mahalo.