World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

NETHBSUUilDS ANTILLESJapanese Customs reports Indicate the import of 68 leg of bek.lco from theNetherlands Antilles in 1968 and none in other years between 1950 and 1986.The exact origin of these exports is not Icnown. They could have originatedeither from the Leeward Netherlands Antilles discussed here or from Aruba,Curacao or Bonaire (discussed separately).Meylan (1983) noted the activities of a tortoiseshell dealer on St Maartenwho was buying shell from several islands in the northern Leewards forexport to Holland. Export records from the Dominican Republic show theexport to "Saint Marteen" of AO kg of turtles in 1982 (Ottenwalder , 1987b).LEGISLATIONThere are no island regulations protecting marine turtles on St Maarten orSt Eustatius.Saba: Island Reef Management Ordinance, 1987Turtles may only be caught by island residents, up to a limit of two perperson per year.Female turtles may not be caught during the period April-November. Allturtles caught must be reported to the Saba Marine Park. Authorities.It is forbidden to collect turtle eggs or disturb nests.380