World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

REUNION AND ILBS EPAKSESHunting intensity The number of hatchlings removed from Europa for theranch in Reunion were 21 882 in 1978-79, 4033 in 1979-80, 6984 in 1980-81and 2396 in 1985-86 (Anon., 1987a). There is a major discrepancy in thefigures which indicates that a further 5000 hatchlings may have beencollected in 1981-82 (see above).Hunting methods The methods by which hatchlings are collected are thesame as those used at Tromelin (q.v.). All transport to and from Europa ison military aircraft, and consequently the transfer of hatchlings to Reunionmay be more delayed than on Tromelin.Historical trends The turtles of Europa were formerly exploited by avariety of fishing concerns, including the members of short-livedsettlements established in 1860, 1903 and later, until the end of humanhabitation around 1923 (Paulian, 1950). Vaillant and Grandidier (1910)reported that the Antif iherenana from Madagascar used to visit Europa tocatch "carets" (usually E. imbricata . but probably mistakenly used here forC. mydas ). which they took back to their villages "towing them behind theircanoes". A European company stationed staff on the island to catch turtlesat an unknown date (presumably after 1903) but could only manage to kill andprocess a twentieth of the number of females which nested each night. Otherfishermen were thought to be active on the island in 1916. Around 1922, aCreole from Tulear, Madagascar, used to visit Europa to catch turtles, whichhe returned live to sell in Tulear (Petit, 1930). Paulian (1950) reportedthat large piles of turtle bones existed on the north coast of Europa, allold, and took this as evidence of exploitation in the early decades of thecentury, not contemporary. The magnitude of past exploitation, and theextent to which it was "organised" (Frazier, 1980a), is impossible to assess.LEGISLATIONArrete No. 1989/DG/Ol (4 July 1983) relatif k la reglementat ion de laproduction et de la commercialisation des tortues marines sur le territoiredes lies Eparses.1. The destruction, removal, capture, utilisation, manufacture, transport,purchase, sale or offering for sale of C. mydas and E. imbricataoriginating in the wild, or their nests, eggs, or other products isprohibited.2. These provisions shall not apply to C. mydas raised on a ranch under dueauthority.3. All trade, donation, transport, introduction, import and export ofC. mydas and their products, except those covered by article 2, and ofall E. imbricata is prohibited.The lies Eparses are classified as Strict Nature Reserves. All damageto flora and fauna is prohibited, and all access is forbidden withoutwritten permission from the Prefet of Reunion.THREATSNo clear threats around the island are evident. Before 1923, when theFrench administration made Europa a protected area, considerable numbers ofnesting females were taken on the island. Large numbers of turtles aretaken on their foraging grounds off south-west Madagascar (see MADAGASCARaccount); some of these turtles are known to be from Europa, and it issuspected that Europa turtles provide the greater part of the Madagascar442