World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

ST VINCENT AND THE ST VINCENT GRENADINESNesting season According to Carr et al (1982), the nesting season isMarch-September on St Vincent and April-September in the St VincentGrenadinesForaging sites Bacon (1981) noted occasional foraging by both adults andjuveniles, and Carr et al (1982) reported that Hawlcsbills of all sizes werepresent all year round along the west coast of St Vincent, though not insubstantial numbers. Hawksbills were considered to be more abundant in theGrenadines than around St Vincent (Carr et. al . 1982; Morris, 198A)reported foraging around the islands of Baliceaux, Canouan, Union andMustiqueEXPLOITATIONCoimodity No specific information. Income was derived from the sale ofwhole shells and scutes, meat, and small turtles as souvenirs (Carr et al .1982) .Hunting intensity Carr et al. (1982) considered exploitation in 1978 tobe quite heavy, especially in the Grenadines.Hunting methods A few fishermen in Chateaubelair , Rose Bank, ClareValley and Questelles set turtle nets along the coast (Carr et al , 1982).Morris (1984) reported that in the Grenadines turtles were taken mainly bygill nets, by hand during nesting, and during offshore trawling. The use ofspear guns to capture small turtles for sale as souvenirs was becomingincreasingly popular (Carr et al , 1982).Domestic trade According to Morris (1984), most whole shells originatedin the Grenadines. Craftesmen paid, on average, K.C. $35-40 a lb (E.G. $77-88a kg) for individual scutes, the price varying with the tourist season.Whole shells fetched a price of E.C $100-160.. Carr et al (1982) noted thesale of meat and shell to tourists travelling through in sailing yachts andalso referred to a French "yatchtel owner" on Union who bought turtles fromlocal fishermen for sale in his establishment. In Kingston, few turtleproducts were seen for sale (Carr et al , 1982).International trade Carr et al (1982) referred to reported annualexports of up to 1500 lb (692 kg) of Hawksbill shell from St Vincent to StLucia. St Vincent is not a Party to CITES. CITES annual reports for theperiod 1977-1985 recorded imports to F.R. Germany of 53 kg of Hawksbillscales from St Vincent. Japanese Customs reports indicate that smallquantities of Hawksbill shell (bekko) were imported from St Vincent from1973 onwards (Table 191). No imports were reported from 1950 to 1972. Itshould be noted, however, that any Hawksbill shell exported via St Luciamight not be recorded as exports from St Vincent.Table 191 Imports of bekko (kg) from St Vincent reported in JapaneseCustoms statistics.1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986243 250 191 130 230 144 36 108 242 191 470497