World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

SOMALIAPOPULATION :Chelonia mydasNesting sites Although the Somali coast is reputed to hold very largenumbers of C. mydas , and major nesting has been reported to occur, littledetailed information is available. According to Ninni (1937, cited inFrazier, 1982), the species nests along much of the Indian Ocean coast ofSomalia. Cozzolino (1938) reported his behavioural observations made onC. mydas nesting on a small islet in southern-most Somalia, presumbly one ofthe Bajun group. Travis (1967), who provided much of the availableInformation on turtles in Somalia, reported nesting north of El Afuen(midway between Brava and Merca) , and at Gandershellch (between Merca andMogadiscio). While these are the only sites specifically noted as nestingareas by Travis (1967), he stresses that very large numbers of turtles occurwidely along the nearly SCO km of coast between Kismayo and Mogadiscio, andimplies that nesting Is very widespread on the extensive andpoorly-accessible beaches of this region (the Benadlr Coast). However,Robertson ( in litt , 10 June 1987) pointed out that from Mogadiscio toKismayo much of the coast is fronted by cliffs, and that although there aresome sandy bays they are often close to fishing camps and therefore veryvulnerable to disturbance. The same applies to long sections of the coastnorth of Obbla. Travis also implies that significant numbers nest aroundthe Horn of Africa, including the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden;however, no localities are cited. Recent sources (J. Nimmo via L. Barrattin litt . . 16 April 1987) confirm that "hundreds" of turtles can be seen atsea off the north coast of Somalia, and turtle tracks have been seen on thenorthern beaches (although the species is unknown, C. mydas is most likely).Nesting numbers Travis (1967) described nesting numbers at two areasbetween Kismayo and Mogadiscio as "huge" and "immense", with nest pits"everywhere" and tracks of nesting females covering the sand. Although nonumerical estimates are available, the implication is that very heavynesting occurred in the region at the time of Travis's operations(apparently c. 1963-1964). If Travis's information is reliable andRobertson ( in litt. . 10 June 1987) cautioned that it may be exaggerated. ItIs possible that several thousand C. mydas nested annually In Somalia In theearly 1960s. Fagotto ( in litt. . 29 August 1986) considered the species tobe abundant in Somalia in the 1970s, and Elder's estimate (Anon., 1986d) ofan annual catch of 3500-4000 C. mydas is indicative of a large population.Trends in nesting numbers No long-term, quantitative survey data areavailable; however. Fagotto ( in litt. . 29 August 1986) has compared hisobservations in 1984 with field notes from 1968-1971. At all five coastalsites recorded, from Kismayo to Uarsclek (80 km north of Mogadiscio), fewerturtles were seen per visit in 1984 than in 1968-1971. These findings aresuggestive of a decline In numbers. Over the same period, the mean size ofturtles appears to have decreased; whereas large adults, 1 m or more incarapace length, were common in 1968-1971, only one 1 m animal wasencountered in 1984 (at Gezira) (F. Fagotto, in litt. . 29 August 1986).Simonetta and Magnoni (1986) also report that marine turtle stocks have been"dramatically depleted all along the Somali coast, wherever there aresubstantial human settlements". They estimate that numbers south of Adale(about ISO km north of Mogadiscio) have declined by about 90%, and thatperhaps half of the former nesting sites have been abandoned (the evidencefor this decline is not presented).Nesting season No detailed information is available; Travis (1967)implies that some nesting goes on virtually throughout the year, but, in the479