World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

INDONESIAUjung Pandang; and barrier reefs east of Kalimantan and around the TogianIslands of Central Sulawesi (Salm and Halim , 1984). There are few atolls(although one, Taka Bone Rate, is the third largest in the world) (Salm andHalim, 1984).THREATSOver-exploitation of eggs and of turtles is the clearest and most prevalentthreat to nesting populations. Schulz (1984) reported that destruction ofbeach vegetation, followed by erosion of beaches, and general disturbance,had caused the loss of nesting turtles along much of the south Java coast.Schulz (1984) also reported that the spread and increase of human coastalsettlement in recent decades, following extensive habitat destruction incolonial times, will have increased the exploitation pressure on turtlepopulations. Other factors, such as sand mining and dynamite fishing, havealso been cited as threats In certain areas.EXPLOITATIONCommodity The eggs of all species of sea turtle are collected and eatenthroughout Indonesia. Meat is eaten in some regions but not in others.C. mydas is the preferred species for eating, but the flesh of E. imbricatawhich have been harvested for shell is not generally wasted, though thereare local traditions that it Is toxic (e.g. the Aru Islands (Compost,1980)). The shell of E. Imbricata is used in the manufacture of jewelleryand is exported. There Is a major trade in stuffed juvenile turtles (bothC. mydas and E. imbricata ) and In larger polished carapaces of C. mydas .Leather of turtles which have been killed for eating is also preserved,mainly for export, and oil is extracted for use as a skin treatment and forits reputed beneficial effects on the sexual organs (Anon., 1984c).Hunting intensity Known levels of egg harvest have been discussed in thepreceding sections. As a result of his recent work, Schulz (1987)considered that he had earlier (Schulz, 1984) underestimated the levels ofegg harvest, and concluded that "every egg laid is taken" in "virtuallyevery nesting place in Indonesia, however small and far-off it may be".Moreover, this does not only Involve eggs of Green Turtles, but appliesequally to those of the Hawksbill (and Olive Ridley and Leatherback)".rThe consumption of turtle meat is concentrated in Ball, where there is asubstantial market for the commodity, but the turtles to supply this tradeare taken from distant waters, even as far off as Irian Jaya. Over 5000adult turtles are said to be obtained from the Aru Islands (Schulz, 1989).The declared landings in Ball in 1986 were 14 200 large turtles, but therewas an unquantlfied additional number of smaller turtles, caught primarilyfor stuffing, the meat of which was also eaten. However Schulz (1987)cautioned that turtle meat was also consumed in other parts of Indonesia,particularly North Sulawesi, Nias, Ambon, and elsewhere. The annualconsumption in Ujung Pandang was estimated to be over 1000 C. mydas , and thepractice of eating turtle meat was thought to be spreading as transmigrantsfrom Bali moved to other areas. The estimated harvest of large C. mydas inthe whole of Indonesia was tentatively put at over 25 000 a year (Schulz,1987). See account of Aru Islands population (in "Nesting numbers" sectionabove) for new information on massive exploitation of breeding turtles.255