World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

TOKBLAUPOPULATION:Chalonla mydasNesting sites The species nests at all three atolls comprising theTokelau group: Atafu, Nuk.unonu and Falcaofo. Nesting in each case appears tobe largely restricted to the seaward side of islets along the easternperimeter of the atoll (these are generally the most windward and furthestfrom villages) (Balazs, 1982b). Much of the shoreline is composed oflimestone and coral shingle; fine coral sand beaches suitable for nestingcomprise perhaps 25% of the ocean-side coast.Nesting numbers Based on interviews and beach surveys, Balazs (1982b)made the preliminary estimate that approximately 120 females nest annually:20 on Atafu, 70 on Nulcunonu, and 30 on Falcaofo.Trends in nesting numbers Hirth (1971) cited a report that the number ofsea turtles nesting in the Tokelau Islands was said to be rapidlydecreasing; similarly Wodzicki (1972, cited in Balazs, 1982b) said thatnumbers "have lately been very low". A comparison of past and presentharvest estimates (see below) indicates that the number of turtles caughthas declined since the early decades of the century (Balazs, 1982b). Balazs(1982b) stresses that turtles can now be hunted at sea much more efficientlythan in the past, because of the use of outboard motors and moresophisticated capture methods, and that despite this increased efficiency,fewer turtles can be caught; the inference is that populations have declined.Nesting season The Green Turtle in Tokelau breeds mainly inSeptember-November and adults are infrequently seen at other times of year(Balazs, 1982b).Foraging sites Turtles, mainly immatures of 40-60 cm carapace length,may be seen foraging in the Tokelau lagoons and along the outer reefthroughout the year. Adults are present mainly in the nesting season andpresumably use the same feeding grounds at this time. Algae are said to bethe main food source in Tokelau.Migration The adult C. mydas population appears to be almost entirelymigratory; Balazs (1982b) speculates that the Tokelau nesting turtles mayforage in the coastal waters of Western Samoa, where the species occurs butdoes not nest.POPULATION: Eretmochelys ImbricataThe Hawksbill has been recorded at all three Tokelau atolls, but nesting isknown only on Nukunonu, and there only rarely. Most E. imbricata seen areimmatures and are suspected to be resident in the lagoon and outer reefareas (Balazs, 1982b). It is possible that this species has shared in thegeneral decline suspected to have affected Tokelau sea turtles (Balazs,1982b), but no specific information is available, and no indication thatnesting numbers were ever greater in the past.THREATSBalazs (1982b) stated that the long-term decline in turtle nesting suggestedby available evidence is probably mainly attributable to excess harvestingof eggs and turtles in Tokelau, and perhaps to harvesting on distant feedinggrounds.S23