World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

ST LUCIAPOPULATION : Chelonia mydas .Nesting sites Butler ( in litt. . 15 September 1986) noted Green Turtlenesting mainly on a few beaches on the east coast. Murray (1984) reportednesting at Trou L'Oranger, Anse Chastanet and possibly Anse de Sables, AnseCommerette, Anse Nicoud and Honeymoon Beach.Nesting numbers Butler ( in litt. , 15 September 1986) considered nestingGreen Turtles to be in low abundance. Bacon (1981) and Carr et al (1982)considered nesting to be rare. Murray (198A) estimated the population ofnesting females to be six, although only two confirmed sightings werereported.Trends in nesting numbers Butler ( in litt. , 15 September 1986)considered the Green Turtle nesting population to be decreasing. Accordingto Murray (198A), fishermen indicated that the numbers of sea turtles seenin 1982 showed a significant decrease relative to 1980 and a major decreaserelative to 1972. It is not certain if this included the nesting population.Foraging sites Carr et al (1982) noted the occurrence of numeroussheltered coves with seagrass beds and reported the presence of juvenile andadult Green Turtles all year round. Bacon (1981) reported frequent foragingby juveniles and adults and named foraging sites at Soufriere, Choiseul,Anse Sable, Micoud and from Gros Ilet to Anse Lavoutte. Murray (198/i)reported approximate numbers observed foraging at the following sites: AnseChastanet (30), Ciceron (3), Maria Islands (10) and Dennery (5).Migration A Green Turtle originally tagged while nesting at Aves Islandwas captured near Vieux Fort (Carr et al , 1980).POPULATION : Eretmochelys imbricataNesting sites Butler ( in litt. , 15 September 1986) reported nesting allalong the western coast. Bacon (1981) reported nesting at Anse Becune, PontSaline, Pigeon Is., Anse Cochon, Anse Jambon, Anse Mamin, Anse Ger, Preslin,Grande Anse, Cas-en-Bah, the mouth of the Troumassee River, and from thesouthern tip of the Island to Burgot Point. According to Murray (1984),nesting also occurred at Cariblue, Anse Chastanet, Dennery, Honeymoon Beachand possibly at Trou L'Oranger, Anse Micoud, Anse de Sables, AnseCommerette, Fond d'Or and Anse Lapins. Carr et al (1982) noted thatHawksbills nested, to some extent, on nearly all St Lucia beaches.Nesting numbers Butler ( in litt. . 15 September 1986) reported nestingHawksbills to be of medium abundance. Bacon (1981) reported frequentnesting and Carr et al (1982) noted that, together with Leatherbacks,Hawksbills were the predominant nesters on St Lucia. Murray (1984)estimated the population of nesting females to be 11, although only fourconfirmed nests were reported.Trends in nesting numbers Butler ( in litt. . 15 September 1986)considered the Hawksbill nesting population to be decreasing. Murray (1984)concluded, from interviews with local fishermen, that there had been a majordecrease in the size of the sea turtle population since 1972.Nesting season April-October (Carr et al. . 1982).493