World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

NORTHERN MARIANAS,COMMONWEALTH OFPOPULATIONFew turtles appear to nest in the Marianas. Although Saipan, for example,has several kilometres of beach on the west coast, very little nesting beachis available in the Marianas generally (Pritchard, 1982b). However, ratherlarge numbers are taken in the area, for food or production of tourist goods(Pritchard, 1982b), so appreciable foraging populations presumably exist.Both C. mydas (apparently predominant) and E. imbricata have been recorded.EXPLOITATIONConmodity Turtles are caught for sale to hotels and for the preparationof stuffed specimens and other tourist goods (Pritchard, 1982b).Hunting intensity Pritchard (1982b) described the numbers of turtlescaptured as "rather large", saying that a diver could easily catch four tofive turtles a day.Hunting methods The aboriginal inhabitants of the Northern were mostlyexterminated or evacuated to Guam during the early Spanish colonial period(Johannes, 1986). Hunting today is said to be carried out by divers(Pritchard, 1982b).Historical trends The levels of harvest are said to be increasing(Pritchard, 1982b).Domestic trade Stuffed turtles were said to be on sale in severallocations on Saipan (Pritchard, 1982b).International trade International trade with the Trust Territory as awhole is discussed under PALAU.LEGISLATIONThe USA Endangered Species Act still applies in the Commonwealth of theNorthern Marianas as do CITES regulations (see under PALAU). TheCommonwealth has a similar status to Puerto Rico.393