Cephalopodcast

Mi hombre no necesita huevos de tortuga
My man does not need turtle eggs.

The folks over at Deep-Sea News, along with Argentinian supermodel Dorismar, want to remind all Catholics that sea turtles are not fish and make an inappropriate option for Lent fasting.

Because of the common misconception of sea turtles as ‘fish,’ it is estimated that as many as 10,000 endangered green, loggerhead, and olive ridley turtles are taken for feast food each year during Catholic religious holidays. Other species, such as leatherbacks, are also at risk as their eggs are poached in massive quantities throughout Latin America.

In conservation, it is rare when a single statement could help save thousands of endangered animals around the world, especially when that statement comes from a single iconic figure. Pope Benedict XVI has a unique opportunity to greatly advance ocean protection and the recovery of endangered animals. An official declaration from the Vatican, broadcast to the more than 1 billion Catholics worldwide, stating that sea turtle flesh is red meat and inappropriate food during this religious time, could help assuage this tradition and allow sea turtle populations to recover.

• Send a message to the Pope: save our sea turtles!
• A report on the consumption of sea turtles during Lent
• Controversy over Argentine model Dorismar (1) (2)