World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

NEW ZEALANDPOPULATIONNo nesting is known on the New Zealand mainland or the Kermadec Islands(B.D. Bell in litt . . 15 January 1987). The Green Turtle is reportedly "veryrare" around the mainland, and the Hawksbill "even rarer" (Pritchard,1982a); the former occurs in moderate abundance (B.D. Bell in litt .15 January 1987) around the Kermadec Islands, as a feeding populationpresent primarily between January and March (Oliver, 1910, cited inPritchard, 1982a).EXPLOITATIONThere is no regular exploitation of turtles and little trade in turtleproducts. The occasional animal taken in trawls is normally released if notalready injured or killed (B.D. Bell in litt. . 15 January 1987).International trade New Zealand is not a Party to CITES but CITES AnnualReports indicate imports from New Zealand of mostly single shells, two tothe USA in 1980, one in 1983 and one to the UK in 1985. Both Papua NewGuinea and Seychelles have reported exporting two and four shellsrespectively to New Zealand; F.R. Germany reported exporting 3 kg of meat in1984. Some turtle products are reportedly exported to New Zealand from theCook Islands (Balazs, 1982c).LEGISLATIONWildlife Act 1953Hunting and export of sea turtle prohibited.384