World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

EQUATORIAL GUINEAEXPLOITATIONCononodlty C. mydas and E. imbricata are regularly exploited for meat andeggs, the main centre of operations being Ureka, the only village on thesouth coast. Turtles are said to be an important source of protein and cashfor the villagers. Hawksbill shell is also sold (Butynski and Koster, 1986).Hunting intensity Exploitation is running at a high level: the localsclaim that 50% of the turtles coming ashore to nest along the 10-15 km beachnear Ureka are killed. At the height of the season, 50 or more turtles canbe killed in a single night, and the total annual harvest of all species isbelieved to be 2000-2500. Eggs are eagerly sought, and it is probable thatfew survive to hatch (Butynski and Koster, 1986).Hunting methods Butynski and Koster (1986) implied that the turtleharvest is almost entirely of nesting females on the beaches.Historical trends Turtles were said to have been heavily exploited bythe Russians in the 1970s (Butynski and Koster, 1986). In the early 1940s,about 200-300 C. mydas were said to be killed each night at the peak of thenesting season, while nowadays the peak is about 50-100 a night (T. Butynskiin litt. to K. Bjorndal, 20 April 1986).FAG statistics show an estimated harvest of "turtles not elsewherespecified" of 100 t a year from 1968 to 1981. The harvest was said to be80, 90 and 150 t in 1982, 1983 and 1984, respectively.Domestic trade Turtles are said to be worth US$45-90 each to the peoplewho kill them. The total value of the resource is worth US$13S 000 a yearin meat alone (Butynski and Koster, 1986). The turtles are said to be takenby boat to Malambo, the capital of Bioko, where the meat is much appreciated(B. Adama in litt , 10 September 1984). Most of the eggs are consumedlocally and are not sold (Butynski and Koster, 1986).International trade Equatorial Guinea is not a Party to CITES. There isno record of any trade in sea turtles with Equatorial Guinea recorded in theCITES Annual Reports.LEGISLATIONAs far as is known, turtles are not protected in Equatorial Guinea.EQUATORIAL GUINEA:MAINLANDNo information is available on turtle nesting or exploitation in themainland portion of Equatorial Guinea.180