World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

MOZAMBIQUEPOPULATION:Chelonia mydasNesting sites There appears to be limited nesting on the northern sectorof the mainland coast, but most nesting (according to local information andsome photographic evidence) talces place on the Primeiras group of islands,some 25 km offshore between Noma and Pebane (Hughes, 1971a). The Primeirascomprise five low sand islands, surrounded by coral shallows; reportedlyFogo, Casuarina and Epidendron are the most important for nes.ting (Hughes,1971a). Hughes (1971b and 1976) implies that nesting also occurs in theSegundoes group, just north of the Primeiras. Some nesting was alsoreported to occur on islands north of Porto Amelia, toward the border withTanzania, and may occur on two islands (Paradise Islands) off the tip ofCape San Sebastian, in southern Mozambique (Hughes, 1971a).Nesting numbers Few details are available, but Hughes (1971a) wasassured that large numbers nested on the Primeiras; it was reportedlypossible to fill a 200-litre drum with eggs collected in less than half anhour. Hughes (1971a) stated that this group is almost certainly the mostimportant nest site in Mozambique, and the source of the majority of theforaging C. mydas found in relative abundance in the country's coastalwaters. Hughes (1974) estimated the annual Primeiras nesting population ataround 50-200 females and later (1976) estimated around 200 on the Primeirasand Segundoes combined.Trends in nesting numbers No long-term data are available. Hughes(1971a) indicated that nesting and feeding C. mydas are threatened byexploitation, which appears to be widespread and persistent; this has led tomarked decline in turtle nesting in many regions, including a rapid declinein turtles nesting on some of the islands in the north (species involved notstated but may be presumed to include C . mydas )Nesting season It is suspected (Hughes, 1971a) that turtles in the areagenerally nest during December-February, in the southern hemisphere summer.Foraging sites Suitable foraging grounds are widespread; nearly all baysand inlets support seagrass pastures; coral reefs and shallows are extensive(Hughes, 1971a). Feeding turtles appear to occur in greatest numbers overthe seagrass pastures in northern areas and, toward the south, around theParadise Islands (I. do Barzaruto, I. Benguerua) and adjacent mainland(around Inhassora) . In general, C. mydas occur throughout the coastalwaters of Mozambique, but juveniles were said by Hughes fl971a) to beextremely numerous. A Chinese fishing community at Inhassora, using nets,catch juveniles far in excess of adult C. mydas or other species (Hughes,1971a)Migration Little information is available. It may be suspected, giventhe small size of the known nesting population in Mozambique, and theanunaance of foraging C. mydas along the coast (in 1969-1970; Hughes,1971a), that a substantial proportion of the species's total population inthe country hests elsewhere. Europe Island is the nearest major nest site,but to date only one female tagged on Europe has been recovered inMozambique waters, near Maputo (Hughes, 1982b).POPULATION: Sretmochelys imbricataNesting sites Nesting ij reported to occur on offshore islands innorthern Mozambique, from Moina northward, including in particular Quirimba,370