World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

HONTSERE(ATDomestic trade Jeffers and Meylan (1984) reported the sale, as souvenirsin local shops, of polished Green Turtle and Hawksbill carapaces andtortoiseshell jewellery.Meylan (1983) noted other aspects of domestic trade. Turtle meat wasusually sold privately, although, during the open season, it could be foundat the public market and in restaurants in Plymouth. There was an activetrade in turtle curio and almost all the tourist shops in Plymouth, and evensome bars, were selling polished Green Turtle and Hawksbill carapaces. Mostof the shells for sale were from juvenile or sub-adults; the carapace of an84-cm Hawksbill was priced at US$74 in 1980. By 1983. however, this tradehad declined, possibly due to the United States* ban on importation ofturtle products. Some tort&isfeshGll was wct-kcd locs-lly. selling for L'S$13a/kg in 1980. Prisoners at the jail were employed making tortoiseshelljewellery to be sold in local shops.International trade There appears to be very little international tradeinvolving turtles products from Montserrat. There are no reports on anytrade in the Cites Annual Reports (Montserrat is covered by the UnitedKingdom Ratification of CITES). Rebel (1974. cited in Meylan, 1983)reported the export of 45.5 kg of tortoiseshell. and that one fishermanreported exporting small quantities of turtle oil to St Kitts.LEGISLATIONTurtle Ordinance 24 September 1951Close season 1 June to 30 September inclusive. The taking of anyturtle under 20 lb (9 kg) is prohibited. It is prohibited toslaughter, buy, sell, possess turtles or their eggs or meat between1 June to 30 September inclusive.369