World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

SAUDI ARABIAE. imbricata and C . mydaa ) are sold in several shops (M. Al-Deghaltherin litt. . 25 October 1986). Burchard ( in litt. to G.H. Balazs, 21 February1982) reported "hundreds" of small Hawksbills in local curio shops in theearly 1980s.International trade Turtle products are not generally exported, butsmall quantities of stuffed turtles are imported for the curio trade(M. Al-Deghaither in litt. . 25 October 1986). These were thought to havebeen imported from Singapore (J.E. Burchard, in litt. to G.H. Balazs,21 February 1982).CITES Annual Reports indicate that Saudi Arabia is a minor consumer ofmanufactured turtle products. Italy reported exporting 96 pairs of shoes in1980, 287 in 1981, 88 in 1982 and various other leather items to SaudiArabia.LEGISLATIONThere is no current legislation specifically to protect sea turtles(M. Al-Deghaither in litt. . 25 October 1986).SAUDI ARABIA:RED SEAPOPULATION:Chelonia mydasNesting sites Most nesting (over 80%) occurs on offshore islands, theonly significant mainland nesting takes place south of the cement factorynear Ras Baridi, north of Yanbu. Three main nesting areas can bedistinguished (lUCN, 1987a):(a) Tiran Island and vicinity.(b) The area between Wejh and Yanbu, including offshore islands and parts ofthe mainland.(c) The islands of the north outer Farasan Bank., particularly the islandgroups centred on 19"50'N, and 18'15'N, which support relatively highdensity nesting.Some islands and some parts of the mainland coast have not yet been surveyedfor evidence of turtle nesting.Nesting numbers Ground surveys of nesting tracks and body pits in 1982and 1983 provided evidence of 291-750 Green Turtle nests (lUCN, 1984). Thisis may be an underestimate since some parts of the mainland and some islandswere not covered and surveys of the Farasan Islands were carried out beforethe probable peak Green nesting period; on the other hand, some nests fromthe previous season may have been included in the count (lUCN, 1984). Themost important single site is the 200-400 m beach near Ras Baridi, justnorth of Yanbu, where perhaps 100 females nest in a season (lUCN, 1987a).Available data suggest that the total annual nesting number is in the lowhundreds.Nesting season Nests in late summer to autumn (lUCN, 1984).Foraging sites No specific information, though suitable habitat appearsrather widespread.450