World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

JAMAICAPOPULATION:Chelonia mydasNesting sites Kerr (1984) reported nesting at Malcolm Point, Sand Hill,Brighton Beach. Rocky Point, Spring Garden Beach, Hermitage and Orange Bay.However, neither Carr et al (1982) nor Bacon (1981) reported any nesting onJamaica and Haynes in litt. (18 November 1986) stated that nestingdistribution was not known.Nesting numbers Kerr (1984) estimated the number of nesting females tobe 100. Haynes in litt. (18 November 1986) considered nesting turtles to bein low abundance and Carr et al (1982) stated that no Green Turtles hadbeen seen on shore in recent decades.Trends in nesting numbers The nesting population appears to bedecreasing (Haynes in litt , 18 November 1986).Nesting season Kerr (1984) reported some nesting between March andOctober but, from the information given, it is impossible to separate GreenTurtle nesting from that of other species.Foraging sites Kerr (1984) noted numerous foraging sites around theisland.Migration Carr et al (1982) reported the recovery at Morant Cay of atag from a Green Turtle tagged while nesting at Tortuguera, Costa Rica.POPULATION: Eretmochelys ImbrlcataNesting sites Haynes in litt. (18 November 1986) reported nesting onavailable sandy beaches all round the island. Kerr (1987) reported nestingsites at Morant Cay, Plumb Point, Fort Charles, Guts River, Treasure Beachand Runaway Bay.Nesting numbers Kerr (1984) estimated the number of nesting females tobe 1400 but this was not based on field surveys and would appear to be anover-estimate; Bullis gave a lower figure of 300 nesting females. Carret al. (1982) stated that only a few Hawksbills emerge each year. Bacon(pers. comm. , 1988) confirmed that the nesting population was potentiallyquite large and that there were many small suitable beaches.Trends in nesting numbers Haynes in litt. (18 November 1986) consideredthe nesting population to be decreasing. Kerr (1987) concluded frominterviews with fishermen that there had been a serious decline.Nesting season According to Carr et al (1982), the nesting season isfrom April to August.Foraging sites Kerr (1984) reported foraging around virtually all of theisland. Frequent foraging by adults and juveniles was reported by Bacon(1981).EXPLOITATIONCoinnodlty The main commodities are meat, from the Green Turtle, and eggsand shell products from the Hawksbill (Haynes in litt. . 18 November 1986).273