World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

MEXICOaround islands between Isla Lobos and Anton Lizardo and around ArrecifeCabezo (Carr et al . 1982; Marquez, 1984b and c). Mirquez (1984a and b)cites Eretmochelys as occurring in the same foraging areas as Chelonia mydas(q.v.), although again with no indication of relative importance. Juvenilesand adults are found in very small numbers off Tabasco; there are reportedlyno regular feeding grounds off Tamaulipas for any species of sea turtle(Carr et al . 1982).EXPLOITATIONN.B. For Chelonia mydas , the Pacific fishery is of considerably greaterimportance in Mexico than that in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Afuller discussion of C. mydas utilisation in Mexico is provided under thesection on Mexico: Pacific.Commodity In Mexico, meat, oil, eggs and hide of both Eretmochelys andC. mydas have been used and traded in, as well as considerable quantities oftortoiseshell from Hawksbill (Carr et al , 1982; Marquez, 1976a).Hunting intensity Data post-1981 are lacking, although it is evidentthat hunting intensity has been high until recently, particularly inCampeche on the west coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and Quintana Roo on theeast coast of Yucatan (Carr et al , 1982; Marquez, 1976a). Whether itremains so is unclear, although Carr et al (1982) and Hildebrand (1981)noted that the harvest in Campeche had declined dramatically in the previousten years. The most recent harvest figures for C. mydas indicate that in1980 312 were taken in the Gulf of Mexico (Tamaulipas to Yucatan) and 100 inQuintana Roo (official fisheries figures, quoted in Mirquez, 1984b and c).A further 100 were reportedly taken in Quintana Roo in 1981; no officialharvest in the Gulf of Mexico is recorded for 1981, although it is not clearif this is because the fishery was closed or if statistics were notavailable. However an estimate of 50 taken as incidental capture by shrimptrawlers and in trammel nets is given for that year (Mirquez, 1984c). Noofficial Hawksbill fishery is recorded since they are protected, although anestimate of 50 taken as incidental capture in the Gulf of Mexico is alsogiven for 1981 (Marquez, 1984b).The following comments for each of the coastal states have been located:Tamaulipas Hildebrand (1981) noted that commercial landings of turtleshave reportedly always been small but exploitation, particularly of eggs,has been very heavy; few nests were overlooked outside the well-protectedbeach of Rancho Nuevo (where the critically endangered Lepidochelys kempinested)Veracruz The turtle fishery along the heavily populated coast of thestate has always been intense, although largely of a subsistence nature; theofficial catch is low (Hildebrand, 1981; Marquez, 1976a). Nets were stillin use near the city of Veracruz in 1979, although Hildebrand noted that theexpectation of the fishermen was low; he cites one village where only fiveturtles (at least two of them C. mydas ) were taken during the whole of the1979 season.Tabasco Although taken whenever encountered, harvesting of turtles hasreportedly never been extensive (Carr et al . 1982; Hildebrand, 1981).352