World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

MEXICOCampeche As noted above, Campeche has been the most productive state inthe region. Hildebrand (1981) notes that in part this is due to thepresence of two major fishing ports and more qualified fishermen than in anyother state on the east coast of Mexico, but also due to the waters herebeing more productive than elsewhere.Yucatan The extent of the catch was unclear, although incidental take byshrimp trawlers was likely to be high (Carr et al ,1982).Quintana Roo Along with Campeche, Quintana Roo has been a long-standingcentre for commercial turtle exploitation, with Isla Mujeres off thenorth-east coast an important base (Parsons, 1962 and 1972). According toofficial harvest figures, Quintana Roo was the most productive state foroverall turtle harvest (i.e. all species) in eastern Mexico during the1960s, producing an average of 126 tonnes per year for 1963-70 compared withc. 25 tonnes per year in Campeche (the next most important state) in thesame period. C. mydas was the most important species taken, followed byCaretta caretta and, sporadically, Eretmochelys (MArquez, 1976a). Figuresfor the 1980 and 1981 harvests are given above. In addition to deliberatetaking of turtles, shrimp trawling was heavy along the north-eastern coastand was likely to take some (Carr, 1981).Hunting methods Turtles are taken with nets, with harpoons, by directcapture in the water and by turning on nesting beaches (although this lastactivity is illegal) (MArquez, 1976a). Use of nets and harpoons is similarto that described for Pacific Mexico (q.v.). Carr et al (1982) noted thatthe use of nets set specifically for turtles was most prevalent in Veracruz,especially near Veracruz city and Montepio, and around the Yucatanpeninsula. Off Campeche nets were set for Hawksbills and Loggerheads nearthe shore over rocks in 30-40 ft (c. 9-12 m) of water and off Quintana Roonets were set in c. 45 ft (13.7 m) in areas where turtles were known to haveregular sleeping refuges. Considerable numbers are also evidently taken byshrimp trawlers in these areas. Carr et al (1982) describe how on IslaMujeres, off the Quintana Roo coast, where there is a long tradition ofturtle harvest and processing, females captured alive in nets during thebreeding season were placed in a turtle crawl which allowed access to anesting beach; they were then allowed to lay their eggs before beingslaughtered. This practice continues but at the end of the nesting seasonmost turtles (about 50 annually) are tagged and released; 10 000-20 000hatchlings are obtained and released annually (Marquez in litt . , 29 August1988).Historical trends There is a long tradition of sea turtle exploitationon the eastern seaboard of Mexico, particularly in the Yucatan peninsula.Parsons notes that in 1554 the inhabitants of at least one coastal villagein the Bay of Campeche were ordered to pay a tribute of five "tortugas"(probably C. mydas ) every two months. In the 18th century it was the customof Jamaican logwood cutters at Campeche to keep a reserve of live GreenTurtles in pens or crawls, many of which were exported to Jamaica where theywere particularly in demand as food for plantation slaves (Parsons, 1962).Juan de Grijalva's expedition to the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in 1517encountered Indians carrying shields made of Hawksbill shells. In 1658 DeRochfort (cited in Parsons, 1962) stated that the best fishing for caret(tortoiseshell) in the Caribbean was on the Peninsula of Yucatan and theislands of the Gulf of Honduras. English boats from Jamaica frequented thepeninsula at this time seeking tortoiseshell (Parsons, 1962).353