World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

PHILIPPINESare kept for about eight months before being released on nearby Islands.The project was started in 1982, and between then and the time of writing(1984?), 636 hatchlings were reared. Reported survival rate was only 36%(Rodriguez, 1984).A rearing project involving E. imbrlcata was being run in the Cuyo Islandsby the Coral Research Project of the Bureau of Fisheries and AquaticResources. Hatchlings were collected and given to volunteer local familiesto rear in fish tubs for up to a year, after which they were released. Ofthe 83 hatchlings reared in 1983, only 18 reached the yearling stage(Rodriguez, 1984).LEGISLATIONSuccessively stricter controls on turtle protection in the Philippines havebeen promulgated, culminating in a complete ban on all exploitation in1982. The main regulations are listed below.Regulation for the conservation of turtles, turtle eggs, and turtle shellsin the Philippines, 9 June 1967.The taking of sea turtles, their eggs and shells, is prohibited for aperiod of five years:C. mydasE. imbrlcataL. ollvaceaD. coriaceaRegulations governing the collecting, gathering and/or disposing of marineturtles, turtle eggs, and their products in the Philippines, 10 July 1974.Prohibits the taking, sale, transport, export of turtles and theireggs.Permits may be Issued for educational or scientific purposes.Collecting prohibited 1 January-31 May inclusive and is only allowedin areas designated by the Director. At least 100 eggs must beretained in every nest. Collecting of any turtle less than 30 cm isprohibited.Regulations for the conservation of marine turtles in the Philippines,15 November 1979.Except in regions 9 and 12, no new permits are to be issued forcollecting, gathering, utilising, possessing, transporting, removing,and/or disposing of marine turtles, turtle eggs and turtle by-products.In regions 9 and 12 permits may be issued for the above activities,provided that the quantity is specified on the permit and that such aharvest (except turtle eggs) shall be sold only to governmentauthorised agencies.Export of marine turtles, turtle eggs and turtle by-products isprohibited.MNR Administrative Order No. 33, Series of 1982.Marine turtle eggs may be collected in the Province of Tawi-Tawl onlyunder permit, under the following conditions:30% of all eggs laid shall be reserved for preservation purposes.Such nests shall not be disturbed in any way.10% of all nests may be gathered and sold, the proceeds being given tothe Tawi-Tawi Marine Turtle Conservation Foundation.428