World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

PANAMAE. imbricata is said to be the most common turtle species in San Bias (Ruizde Guevara, 1986)Trends in nesting numbers It is believed that Hawlcsbills nested atChiriqui in considerably greater numbers in the past, although there are noestimates. Carr (1956) on the basis of reports considered it probably to bethe greatest concentration of Hawksbills nesting in the Caribbean. Ruiz deGuevara (1986) reported that E. imbricata appeared to nest on fewer and moreremote beaches in San Bias than it had done in the 1960s and 1970s. Heblamed the increase in hunting pressure for this decline.Nesting season April to August, with a peak in May and June (Carret al. , 1982).Foraging areas There are extensive foraging areas in the Bocas del Tororegion, with Hawksbills found with relatively high frequency around IslaBastimentos, Isla de Col6n and on banks further off shore. Hawksbills werealso relatively common in the abundant reef habitats around the San BiasIslands (Carr et al . 1982).Migration A male tagged near Little Sandy Cay, Nicaragua on 20/10/1972was recovered in Almirante Bay, Panama, near Chiriqui Beach on 10/5/74(Nietschmann , 1981) and an individual tagged at Tortuguero in Costa Rica wasrecovered near Col6n in Panama four months after being tagged (Bjorndalet al. . 1985). These give indications of long-distance movements inHawksbills but provide no conclusive evidence for regular migrations.THREATSExploitation and incidental take are the factors most usually cited. Heylan(1984) also notes that a grave threat to the nesting and feeding habitats ofEretmochelys in Bocas del Toro Province is posed by the terminal for atrans-isthmus oil pipeline, completed in September 1982, which lies in thewaters of Chiriqui lagoon. The lagoon is part of a complex of bays,islands, coral reefs and seagrass beds covering over 2000 sq. km and whichprovides important habitat for Hawksbills and other turtles, includingChelonia mydas . This area is expected to be sensitive to oil pollution,some of which has already occurred (Meylan, 1984). No figures are availablefor the extent of incidental catch.EXPLOITATIONCommodity Panama has long been an important source of tortolseshell forinternational trade (Parsons, 1972; Meylan, 1984). Meylan (1984) noted thatthis was the primary motive for capturing Hawksbills, although the meat andeggs were also widely used. In general the meat of Green Turtles wasgreatly preferred, and formed an Important source of protein for somecoastal communities, particularly along the Costa Abajo, a stretch ofmainland running from the Valiente Peninsula to Col6n; conditions along thiscoast were not conducive to livestock rearing and transportation of meatfrom Bocas was reportedly difficult and costly. Hawksbills also had otheruses: male reproductive organs are dried and ground and used for a varietyof medicinal purposes, including as aphrodisiacs; Guaymi Indians living onthe Valiente Peninsula use tortolseshell to make spurs that are used in cockfights (Meylan, 1984). Ruiz de Guevara (1986) reported that the coastal408