World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

SAO TOME AND PRINCIPEVirtually no recent information is available. Chelonia mydas has beenrecorded as nesting on Sao Tom^, Principe and Rolas (an islet off the southcoast of Sao Tome), and E. imbricata has been recorded on Sao Tome and Rolas(sources cited in Brongersma, 1982). According to Greef (1884), the beachesof Sao Tom6 and especially Rolas, were "very commonly" visited by nestingC. mydas and E. imbricata between December and February (Greef* s footnote,1884, page 49, appears to be the main source of information on turtles onthese islands).EXPLOITATIONComnodlty Greef (1884) noted that nesting females of both species weretaken on the nesting beach, meat and eggs of C. mydas being most highlyregarded. E. imbricata was said to be less favoured for food, but thelocals on Rolas apparently ate it without ill effect. Its shell was used inthe manufacture, apparently local, of jewellery and other ornamental items.Parsons (1962) stated that a small tortoiseshell industry was said to existon the islands. Reiner (in Brongersma, 1982) reported that E. imbricata isat present heavily exploited in Sao Tom^, for the souvenir trade. Theseislands appear to be a centre for E. imbricata exploitation.Domestic trade The polished carapaces of C. mydas and E. imbricata werereported to be on sale in tourist shops for Db8000 each (approx. US$40)together with some Hawksbill shell jewellery, but there was little otherevidence of trade (P.J. Jones in litt. . 2 September 1987).International trade Sao Tom^ and Principe are not a Party to CITES, andthere are no records of trade in turtle products from these islands recordedin CITES Annual Reports. However, Hawksbill shell clearly is commerciallyexported as Carr and Carr (1985) were told that all tortoiseshell goods onsale in Luanda (Angola) were imported from Sao Tom6.LEGISLATIONIt appears that turtles are not legally protected in Sao Tom4 and Principe.447