World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

SOLOMON ISLANDSThere is a small tortoiseshell-carvlng industry in the islands, the productsbeing sold to tourists and occasionally exported to neighbouring Pacificislands (Vaughan, 1981).The Solomon Islands are not a Party to CITES, but the CITES Annual Reportscontain importers' reports of two transactions in shell of Cheloniidae fromthe islands. In 1983, the USA imported four carvings from Switzerland,which originated in the Solomon Islands; and in 1982, Australia reportedimporting one shell directly from the islands.Table 184. Imports of belcko (k.g) from the Solomon Islands reported inJapanese Customs Statistics.1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 19861590 378 657 846 873 756 528 924 704 336 1206 992 1127 1556 1793RANCHINGNo commercial ranches have been started in the Solomon Islands, but aheadstarting project was run in the Arnavon Sanctuary. In 1977, 1000hatchlings were kept in galvanised tanks for five months, after which only284 survived. These were transferred to a coral pond at Wagina, where theywere fed by villagers for a year (McKeown, 1977). The project founderedwhen it became involved in a land dispute in the early 1980s. Armedislanders claimed ownership, destroyed the buildings and forced the staff toleave (T. Daly pers. comm. , 1988).LEGISLATIONFisheries Regulations 1972.It is prohibited to export, or attempt to export, the shell of anyturtle of less than 60 cm in carapace length.The taking of D. coriacea is completely prohibited without a permitgranted by the Principal Fisheries Officer.Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations 1977.It is prohibited to sell or expose for sale any turtle with a carapacelength of less than 75 cm.Prohibited to take, destroy, possess, sell or expose for sale, buy orexport eggs of P. coriacea except under a written permit.478