World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

INDONESIAEgg collection is intense, and while in the old days many nests would not betaken in stormy weather during the north-west monsoon (December-March),better boats and equipment now allow visits to be made throughout the year.The local egg harvest contractor had already collected 4000 E. imbricataeggs (perhaps 33 nests) in the week prior to Schulz's visit (14 February1987); this is before the main nesting period for the species. A 197AProvincial Decree prohibits turtle fishing in waters of Riau Province, andit seems that regardless of this decree, adult turtles are not taken bylocal hunters, nor do Balinese fishing vessels venture into the area.Tambelan ArchipelagoThis isolated island group comprises some 54 islands, with turtle nestingreported to occur on almost all of the 35 uninhabited islands, but mostly onBungin, Uwi , and Genting. Both E. imbricata and C. mydas nest in goodnumbers, one or two of the former to every ten of the latter. On thisbasis, some 80 000 to 160 000 of the approximate annual yield of 800 000eggs would be from E. imbricata . representing around 666 to 1333 nests.Pulau Genting, where females often nest in the brown grassy sand amongcoconut palms, is reported to hold highest Hawksbill nesting numbers in theTambelan group, and six had nested on the night before Schulz's visit on18 February 1987.Eggs are harvested commercially, and are sold in north-west Kalimantan whenharvests are low in the beginning of the season; but when high, duringMay-August, eggs are exported to Sarawak through intermediaries in the SouthNatuna Islands or In north-west Kalimantan.AnambasArchipelagoAn Island group in the north-west sector of Riau Province; E. imbricata andC. mydas both nest, suspected to be in the ratio of one of the former to tenof the latter; given an annual egg harvest of more than 1 000 000 eggs,there may be more than 800 E. imbricata nests and some 100 000 eggs (Schulz,1987).S. Riau and N. Lingga groupsIslands off the north-west coast of Sumatra, where some 50 000 E. imbricataeggs are laid annually in the sub-district Senayang, representing around 400nests, almost one quarter of which are laid on P. Ileuh (Schulz, 1987).The Belltung areaThe Belltung region, specifically the Islands off the west and south coast,and to the east, has long been cited as Important for E. imbricata nesting.The area provides excellent Hawksbill habitat, with many small anduninhabited Islands, and abundant coral reefs. Nesting occurs from Februaryto July, with a peak In March-May, and sporadic nesting throughout theyear. Nesting numbers are said to be highest on P. Plemah, where up to 5-7females may nest nightly, with an average of around four nightly during thepeak period March -May (Schulz, 1987). In the Lima Islands, numbers are saidto be highest on P. Lima Itself, with up to 5 10 nests nightly (on a goodnight in peak season); on P. Panjang, around 12 500 eggs a season arecollected, representing some 100 nests, and diffuse nesting occurs on othersIn the group (Schulz, 1987). Significant numbers also nest on at least nineIslands In the Momperang group, east of Belltung; The harvest Is around150 000 E. Imbricata eggs (some 800 nests) on P. Momperak and and253