Ascension : A Readers Opinion
Submitted by The Islander (Gavin Yon) 06.03.2008 (Article Archived on 20.03.2008)

Dear Editor, I was saddened by last weeks front page of the Islander. I have nothing against the catching of food from the sea.

Dear Editor,

I was saddened by last weeks front page of the Islander.  I have nothing against the catching of food from the sea.  I spend time at the Pierhead and do enjoy a tuna steak,  however the photo’s made me feel uneasy.  I found comfort though in the picture below.  The photo shows men collecting turtles and taking them to the ponds at Georgetown.  Maybe those men too stood proudly beside the biggest turtle they caught that night.  They too had their reasons for hauling the turtles on their back – fresh meat, beautiful shells...  nothing was to be wasted, (that is perhaps where the difference is most striking.  The dead shark was dumped back at sea as its meat wasn’t for human plates).

I was encouraged by the picture that is evidence that times have changed…and will continue to do so.  Today collecting turtles is unacceptable.  Today they are looked after and Ascension is proud of their breeding turtles. Our hatchlings are famous world wide!   The photo below belongs in the museum.  Hopefully photo’s like the one in last weeks Islander – one day too, will be no more than history.