Estrellita, IP38-138 in the Marshall Islands
Tuesday - March 17, 2009•Views: 5810••
For the past 2 months Amy and I have been traveling around the Marshall Islands just north of the equator and about 2500 miles east of the Philippines. The winds were really howling and we were pinned down for weeks at a time in remote anchorages with not another boat in sight. In the 2 years we have been out (Two years today as a matter of fact, 3-18-09) it is the only time we have been so away from other cruisers. As a consequence, we were in a position to meet and really get to know some of the local people.
There are a couple photos here that may be controversial. The Marshall Islanders take and consume giant sea turtles regularly. I’m not even sure about the law locally. But I do have a strong opinion that sea turtles are not in danger because the people in remote villages who are visited by supply ships only 3 or 4 times in an entire year are eating them. The danger is from commercial fishing and foreign exploitation. The turtles in these photos were consumed by local peoples and there was zero commercial influence. This is simply a part of the Marshallese diet. We thought you may like to see something you don’t see often in the modern world. I put them in the bottom row. Avoid them if you prefer.
The first group of photos are from 4 weeks we spent in Rongelap. The island has been vacant for years due to concerns over radiation from nuclear tests conducted by the US at neighboring Bikini Atoll in the 40’s and 50’s. A crew of about 29 men (and one women) maintain homes and infrastructure built by the US, though the people of the atoll refuse to return. There are even a few tourist bungalows that will be marketed by the Rongelap government if air travel ever returns to the atoll. It is not practical to travel the 400 miles from Majuro to Rongelap by boat for vacation length visits.
The second group of photos are from Likiep. Still only 3 or 4 supply ships a year but the airport hosts a round trip from Majuro when the local airlines has a plane that is air worthy. It is a 50 / 50 deal.
Finally, the turtle photos. When the turtle was caught the word was put out to folks on the island that they would cook and serve it to whoever came by on the following Friday. No tourists, no commercial interest. Just the local population harvesting the sea that surrounds their home.
In a couple days we are off for The Federated States of Micronesia. See you.
There are a couple photos here that may be controversial. The Marshall Islanders take and consume giant sea turtles regularly. I’m not even sure about the law locally. But I do have a strong opinion that sea turtles are not in danger because the people in remote villages who are visited by supply ships only 3 or 4 times in an entire year are eating them. The danger is from commercial fishing and foreign exploitation. The turtles in these photos were consumed by local peoples and there was zero commercial influence. This is simply a part of the Marshallese diet. We thought you may like to see something you don’t see often in the modern world. I put them in the bottom row. Avoid them if you prefer.
The first group of photos are from 4 weeks we spent in Rongelap. The island has been vacant for years due to concerns over radiation from nuclear tests conducted by the US at neighboring Bikini Atoll in the 40’s and 50’s. A crew of about 29 men (and one women) maintain homes and infrastructure built by the US, though the people of the atoll refuse to return. There are even a few tourist bungalows that will be marketed by the Rongelap government if air travel ever returns to the atoll. It is not practical to travel the 400 miles from Majuro to Rongelap by boat for vacation length visits.
The second group of photos are from Likiep. Still only 3 or 4 supply ships a year but the airport hosts a round trip from Majuro when the local airlines has a plane that is air worthy. It is a 50 / 50 deal.
Finally, the turtle photos. When the turtle was caught the word was put out to folks on the island that they would cook and serve it to whoever came by on the following Friday. No tourists, no commercial interest. Just the local population harvesting the sea that surrounds their home.
In a couple days we are off for The Federated States of Micronesia. See you.
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