World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

FIJIPOPULATIOK :Chelonia mydasNesting sites with more than 330 islands in the group, about one thirduninhabited, sea turtle nesting is lilcely to be widespread. Nocomprehensive survey has been carried out. Bustard (1970) reported thatnesting occurs on certain islands off eastern Vanua Levu, including Taveunl(species undetermined), Laucala, Nanulcu Levu and Nanuku Lailai. Hirth(1971) reported that nesting (species undetermined) is said to occur in thesouthern Lau group, Tavarua and Namoto. Hirth (1971) suggests that theYasawa Islands, Mamanutha Islands, and the Lau group are lilcely to supportgreatest nesting numbers; none of the sites examined by, or reported to,Hirth appeared likely to hold large numbers of turtles (Hirth, 1971). Noinformation is available for Rotuma.Nesting numbers Very little information is available. Bustard (1970)noted that the two Nanulcu islands were said to be the only nesting site inthe Taveuni region with good numbers involved; Bustard found six old nests(mostly C. mydas ) on Nanuku Levu and two old nests on Nanuku Lailai. Whilepresent information is very inadequate, it seems likely that only smallnumbers nest annually in Fiji.Trends In nesting numbers No reliable comparative data are available.Bustard (1970) reports several sites where turtles were said to be lessabundant than in previous years, or had ceased nesting altogether; thisapparent widespread decline is attributed by Bustard to the avidity withwhich eggs and turtles are hunted for food.Nesting season Most turtle nesting on Fiji appears likely to occurduring the austral summer, with a peak around January (Bustard, 1970).Foraging sites Seagrass pastures appear to be widespread In Fiji, with anotable area off the southern coast of Vltl Levu (Hirth, 1971), and pasturesoff north-central Vltl Levu are cited as a foraging ground sometimes huntedover by fishermen from Malaku Island.Migration No information is available on movements of Fijian nesters,but C. mydas tagged in French Polynesia have been recaptured in Fijianwaters (see FRENCH POLYNESIA account).POPULATION : Eretmochelys imbricataNesting sites With more than 330 Islands In the group, about one-thirduninhabited, sea turtle nesting is likely to be widespread. Bustard (1970)recorded nesting by this species on Laucala, Matagl and Nanuku Lailai, allnear Taveuni, off the east coast of Vanua Levu. Hirth (1971) cited a reportthat E. Imbricata is fairly common inside the northern loop of GreatAstrolabe Reef in Kadavu, but it is uncertain whether this species isresponsible for the evident signs of nesting there; the species is reportedto nest in the southern Lau group. No information is available for Rotuma.Nesting numbers Very little Information is available. Bustard (1970)recorded 18 old E. imbricata nests on 12 January on Nanuku Lailai and two onNanuku Levu; these islands were said locally to be the best turtle nestinggrounds in the Taveuni region. While present data are very sparse, it seemslikely that only small numbers nest annually in Fiji.185