World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

GRENADA AND THE GRENADIAN GRENADINESsummer months on Grenada and from April to October on Carriacou. Flnley(1984) recorded nesting between April and September.Foraging sites Bacon (1981) reported frequent foraging by adults andjuveniles and gives Woburn, La Sagesse, Crouchu, Soubisse and La Poterie asforaging sites around Grenada. Finley (1984) recorded foraging at GloverIsland, Levera Bay, Grand Hal Bay, Hog Island, Latante Bay, Galby Bay, GreatBacolet Bay, Three Sisters Islands, Isle de Ronde, Isle de Caille, David Bayand from Point Saline to Quarantine Point.EXPLOITATIONCommodity The meat of all species was eaten locally, but Hawksbill andGreen Turtle meat was preferred (Finley, 1984). Carr et al (1982) reporteda lively trade in stuffed turtles and shells, and Finley (1984) commentedthat Hawksbill and Green Turtles were prized for their "backs" (probablycarapace), with a marked preference for those of the Hawksbill.Hunting intensity From a survey conducted in 1981 it was estimated thatabout 1000 turtles were caught annually, 70% of which were juveniles(Finley, 1984). For the period 1980-1982 Finley (1984) estimated an annualcatch of 100-150 (2500 kg) C. mydas and 100-200 (5000 kg) E. imbricata . Itwas also estimated by Finley (1984) that 6000-10 000 eggs were collectedand, 100 nesting females, and 50-75 sea turtles at sea were taken annuallyfor subsistence use. FAG Fishery Statistics show catches of C. mydas (inmetric tonnes) for the years 1981 to 1984 to be 10, 18, less than 0.5 and 2respectively. Carr et al (1982) considered exploitation of sea turtles inGrenada to be moderately intense and stated that most turtle fishingoccurred along the southern and eastern shores at Woburn, La Sagesse,Crouchu, Soubisse and La Poterie. Finley (1984) reported landing sites forGreen Turtles and Hawksbills at Sauteurs, Grenville, Calliste, Bacolet andCalivignyHunting methods Turtles were taken on nesting beaches (Carr et al .1982), and in some places were caught in trammel nets which were set on thereefs, especially at times of nesting (Finley, 1984). Turtles were alsocaught by divers who will shoot them while spearfishing (Finley, 1984).Historical trends FAG Fishery Statistics show minimal catches of 50 tfor the years 1965-1973 and less than 0.5 t for 1974-1980.Domestic trade The meat of all species was eaten locally and sold forEC$1.75 a lb (EC$3.85 a kg) (Carr et al . 1982). Finley (1984) reported thesale of turtles at EC$0.90 a lb (EC$1.98 a kg) live weight at localmarkets. There was a lively trade in stuffed turtles and shells in theGrenadines between local fishermen and tourists passing through in yachts(Carr et al , 1982). On Grenada, turtle products sold for high prices inthe tourist shops, one adult Hawksbill being priced at EC$750.International trade Japanese Customs statistics show imports fromGrenada in 1973, 1975 and 1977 of 499 a kg, 132 a kg and 59 a kgrespectively of unworked tortoiseshell . CITES annual reports for the period1977-1984 record import to the USA from Grenada of two shells and onestuffed body of E. imbricata , two shells and one stuffed body of C. mydas .and one Cheloniidae shell. Grenada is not party to CITES.203