World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

PUERTO RICONesting season Kontos (1988) reported that peak, nesting on Nona Islandwas from August to November.Foraging sites Gonzalez (1984) identified foraging sites on the reefs atCulebra Island and also at Monita Island. Carr et al. (1982) noted thatHawksbills of all ages and sizes, except for those of the "lost year" group,inhabited the diverse reef area of Puerto Rico and its adjacent islandsTHREATSOn Nona Island, Kontos (1988) reported that all of the 35 nests laid onunprotected beaches in 1987 were destroyed by feral pig predation. Theremaining 26 nests laid on 3 km of beach which had been protected by fencingsuffered no predation.EXPLOITATIONCommodity Hawksbills were taken in substantial numbers on Nona Islandfor their meat, scutes and eggs (Olson, 1985). Turtle eggs were takenwhenever possible and Hawksbill shells were popular as wall hangings (Carret al. . 1982).Hunting intensity In 1987, Kontos (1988) found the remains of eightturtles which had been killed by humans, including two C. mydas and fourE. Imbricata .Hunting methods Carr et al. (1982) reported the spearing of Hawksbillsto be a popular sport among divers and also noted that "surreptitious"netting of turtles was common.Historical trends All species of sea turtles have been heavily exploitedthrough the region (Carr et al. . 1982). FAO Fishery Statistics recordannual sea turtle catches of 100 metric tonnes in the years 1966-1968 andalso in 1971. Olson (1985) considered that the US Endangered Species Acthad reduced the extent of human predation on the sea turtles of Nona Islandbut had by no means eliminated it.International trade Japanese imports of bekko and other tortolseshellfrom Puerto Rico are given In Table 168. CITES annual reports for theperiod 1977-1985 recorded the Illegal shipments from Puerto Rico, seized onentry Into the USA, of sea turtle oil, bodies, shells, meat and carvings.Puerto Rico is covered by the USA's ratification of CITES (14 January 1974).Table 168. Imports of bekko (kg) from Puerto Rico, 1963-1979, reported inJapanese Customs Statistics. No other imports of bekko were reported from1950 to 1986.•63 "64 *65 '66 '67 '68 '69 "70 '71 '72 '73 '74 '75 '76 '77 '78 '79Bekko