World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

SOMALIAsouth at least, declines at the start of the rainy season (the main rainyseason is March-May).Foraging sites According to Travis (1967), prime C. mydas foraginggrounds extend for almost the entire southern coast of Somalia, from nearMogadiscio south to the border with Kenya. In this region, a fringing reefoccurs close off shore, with an extensive zone of shallows and seagrasspastures enclosed between it and the coastal dunes. No information isavailable for other parts of the country, although good numbers of turtleswere reported around Alula on the Gulf of Aden coast, perhaps indicating theexistence of good foraging sites. As noted above, recent information isthat turtles are seen in abundance off the north coast of Somalia (J. Nimmo,via L. Barratt, in litt. . 16 April 1987).Migration It is unknown whether all or some of the C. mydas nesting inSomalia are permanently resident in the country, or migrate to feedinggrounds elsewhere. It is clear, however, that Somalia provides foragingsites for the C. mydas population nesting in South Yemen, five turtlestagged in the latter having been recovered in Somalia (two at Hordio, two atMogadiscio, one at Kismayo) (Hirth and Carr, 1970).POPULATION: Kratmochalys imbricataVery little information is available. Travis (1967) records the presence ofE. imbricata among the northern Bajun islands, in Routhern-most Somalia.Fagotto ( in litt . 29 August 1986) reports that the species was not abundantin Somalia at the time of his first visit, in 1968, nor since; it was highlysought after for shell, used in local tortoiseshell industries.EXPLOITATIONCommodity C. mydas is the principal species hunted for meat for localconsumption, although E. imbricata is also eaten. Travis (1967) reportedthat, being Moslem, most of the Somalis except the Barjuni did not eatturtle, although they will eat turtle eggs. This view was echoed by Fagotto( in litt , 29 August 1986), who said that most of the demand in 1984 wasfrom restaurants and Europeans. Eggs are also collected and eaten. Thereis a good demand for Hawlcsbill shell for export and for the manufacture ofcurios for tourists. Polished carapaces of both C. mydas and E. imbricataare also sold (Simonetta and Magnoni, 1986; Anon., 1986d; Elder, pers.comm.). There was formerly an export trade in calipee, oil and leather(Travis, 1967).Hunting intensity Elder (Anon., 1986d) estimated that between Kismayoand Ras Chiaboni there were about 400 fishermen all catching an average of3-4 turtles a week during the peak six months. A further 400 fishermen weresaid to be operating between Merca and Kismayo. The total catch of C. mydaswas said to be about 3500-^4000 a year. Robertson ( in litt. . 10 June 1987)considered that this estimate was probably excessive, pointing out thatdomestic demand was low and that the German-run factory at Kismayo was theonly processing plant capable of producing meat of export quality. Eggs arealso collected, certainly around Gezira, but possibly also elsewhere(Simonetta and Magnoni, 1986).Hunting methods Travis (1967) described the use of large -mesh turtlenets which were set across channels in the reef. A boat crew of three could480