World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

HAWAIIRANCHINGConunercial raising of turtles on Hawaii has been suggested on severaloccasions, but has not been undertaken. The early Hawaiians used to use acoastal pond on Oahu to keep live turtles in until they were ready foreating (Balazs, 1980).The Sea Life Park on Oahu has maintained turtles as an exhibit for sometime. In 1974, a pool was constructed off a sandy beach to act as anexperimental breeding facility, and the first nesting took place in 1976.It is thought that only four of the nine females nested. A total of 398hatchlings were produced from these nests, of which 295 were released offOahu while some were retained in captivity. After a further five months 24were released. No further nesting took place between 1976 and 1980 (Balazs,1980).LEGISLATIONApart from protection within the National Wildlife Refuge, there was noprotection of sea turtles in Hawaii until 1974, when commercial fishing wasprohibited. Turtles larger than 36" (91 cm) could be taken for "homeconsumption". E. imbricata and D. coriacea were totally protected. In1978, C. mydas was included under the threatened category under the USEndangered Species Act, which has jurisdiction on Hawaii, and all huntingwas prohibited (Balazs, 1980).223