World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

HAITIPOPULATION:Chelonia mydasNesting sites Nesting sites were identified at Anse-a-Pitre to BelleAnse, Cayes Jacmel and Raymond, Hayette to Cotes de Fer, Cotes de Fer toMonillage, Baie de Caracol, Petite Anse, Anse-a-chou-chou, and Fond Larange(Kavanaght, 1984). Ottenwalder (1987a) identified nesting sites at PointeDiamant ( Ile-a-vache) , east of Jeremie, west of St Marc, and betweenLaborieux and Pointe des Trois Lataniers.Nesting numbers Ottenwalder (1987a) concluded that nesting is low andscattered, with no evidence of any large concentrations.Trends in nesting numbers According to Carr et al (1982), marine turtlesonce abounded in Haitian waters but this was no longer the case. GreenTurtles were, and still are, the most common species around Haiti, butOttenwalder (1987a) considered them to be seriously depleted and probablystill declining.Nesting season Nesting reported by Kavanaght (1984) occurred in May,July and August, possibly extending to October (Ottenwalder, 1987a).Foraging sites Foraging was reported to occur at CayesRaymond and at Cotes de Fer to Monillage (Kavanaght, 1984).JacmelandPOPULATION : Eretemochelya imbricataNesting sites Nesting was reported to occur at Anse-i-Pitre to BelleAnse, Mayette to C6te de Fer, Les Cayes to St Jean, Pointe-4-Gravois to PortSalut, and Anse-4-chou-chou (Kavanaght, 1984). Ottenwalder (1987a)identified nest sites at Pointe de I'Est, near Anse d'Azur and betweenLaborieux and Pointe des Trois Lataniers.Nesting numbers Bullis (1984) inferred, from unquantif iable information,possibly low to moderate levels of nesting activity. Ottenwalder (1987a)described nesting levels as unknown but presumably low. Hawksbills are thesecond most common species around Haiti.Trends in nesting numbers Carr et al. (1982) stated that marine turtlesonce abounded in the waters around Haiti but this was no longer the case.Nesting season Nesting reported by Kavanaght (1984) occurredJuly and August, possibly extending to November (Ottenwalder, 1987a)inMay,Foraging sites Kavanaght (1984) reported foraging at Pointe-i-Gravois toPort Salut. Bacon (1981) reported frequent foraging by adults and juvenilesat Gonare Island.EXPLOITATIONComDodity Sea turtle meat and eggs are highly appreciated by theHaitians and can be found in seafood shops in Port-au-Prince. Tortoiseshellproducts and whole shells are regularly sold in tourist shops (Ottenwalder,1987a).Hunting intensity Kavanaght (1984) estimated, from exports of carapace,landings of 250 kg of C. mydas and 242 kg of E. imbricata in 1982. However,217