World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

DOMINICAN REPUBLICPOPULATION : Eretmochelys imbricataNesting sites Nesting is widely dispersed alongpossibly concentrated in the south-west (see Table 52).the coast, thoughNesting numbers Estimates for 1981 are given in Table 52; estimatedtotal population was between 240 and 600 females laying per year(Ottenwalder, 1981). A further survey in 1986/87 produced an "order ofmagnitude" estimate of 310 females (Ottenwalder, 1987b).Trends in nesting numbers Ottenwalder (1981; 1987b) stated that thepopulation was decreasing. See C. mydas account above for discussion ofpossible original population levels.Nesting season Nesting has been recorded from May to December with mostfrom August to October; Ottenwalder (1981) considered it possible thatnesting occurred year round.Foraging sites There are evidently widespread Hawksbill foragingaround the coastline (see C . mydas above).sitesTHREATSThe principal threat appears to be exploitation of turtles and their eggs.The incidental take is thought to represent an insignificant fraction of thetotal take (Ottenwalder, 1987b). Wells (1988a) notes that human activitieshave had a noticeable impact on the coastline of the country, resulting fromdredging, pollution and coastal development. Ottenwalder (1987b) noted thatnesting habitat was being destroyed at an alarming rate by (in order ofimportance) toursim, sand extraction and agricultural development. Tourismis given high priority by the Government, which has allocated seven of thebest nesting areas as development zones.EXPLOITATIONCommodity Carr et al. (1982) note that eggs are taken and nestingturtles regularly killed. Hawksbills are reportedly actively hunted fortheir shells and are frequently taken by divers with spearguns. Turtle meatis evidently consumed and Carr et al. (1982) noted stuffed Green Turtles andLoggerheads ranging from juvenile to adult size being offered for sale.Hunting intensity Indications are that hunting is fairly intense.Ottenwalder (1987b) reported that turtles are generally caught whenever theyare seen, indicating an intense level of exploitation. Official fisherieslanding statistics are given in Table 53. These refer to sea turtle meatreported as "Carey" and "Tortuga" but ottenwalder cautioned that "carey" isoften used indiscriminately for sea turtles. He further asserted that theofficial figures do not include turtles killed on the nesting beaches and inremote areas. The laws regarding turtle capture are apparently widelydisregarded. Interviews with fishermen suggest that they may capture oneturtle every one to three weeks, but the total harvest for the year isestimated to be 1000-2000 turtles, of which 70% are thought to be C. mydasand E. imbricata .Hunting methods Turtles are taken with a variety of nets, withboathooks, harpoons, spearguns and by turning females on nesting beaches166