World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

FIJIThe most significant, apparently commercial, trade was the import to Franceof 60 kg of E. imbricata shell from Fiji in 1985.Fiji is not a Party to CITES, but CITES Annual Reports indicate that it is afairly important source of tourist possessions made from tortoiseshell.Between 1980 and 1984, a total of 29 items of Cheloniidae, 68 of C. mydasand 71 of E. imbricata were reported as imports to the USA and Australia.LEGISLATIONFisheries Act (1 January 1942).No person may harpoon a turtle unless the harpoon has at least one barbwhich projects no less than 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) from the surface of theshaft, measured at right angles to the shaft.Amended by Regulations 8 June 1966.Turtle eggs may not be dug up, used or destroyed.No turtle with a shell length of less than 18 inches (457 mm) may bekilled, taken or molested.No turtle may be killed, taken or molested during the months of January,February, November and December.Table 61. Destination of exports of "unworked tortoiseshell". Category291-161, reported in Fijian Customs Statistics (kg). Statistics before 1979were taken from Wells (1979).Destination 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980Australia