World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

TONGAnested prior to 1974 on Kelefesia (where the last nest was said to be eightyears before) and on Mangoiki (last nest two or three years before).Nesting numbers Little information is available; the report by Braley(1974) implies that Hawksbill nesting (and by sea turtles generally) is at avery low level indeed, whereas Wilkinson (1979) implies that nesting iswidespread without giving any indication of the numbers involved.Trends in nesting numbers No specific information, but the species maywell have shared in the general decline in nesting numbers reported byBraley (1974) and acknowledged by Wilkinson (1979).Nesting season According to Wilkinson (1979), sea turtle nesting in theVava'u group extends from October to January, with most nesting inDecember-January (species not stated).THREATSThe decline in turtle numbers reported by Braley (1974) is attributeddirectly to over-exploitation of eggs and turtles, and the rapid decreasearound Braley 's time of writing mainly to the introduction of the speargun.EXPLOITATIONComnodity The eggs and meat of turtles are eaten in Tonga. C. mydas wasthe species most commonly seen in the Government market (Wilkinson, 1979).Whole carapaces of all species are sold in tourist shops, and some Hawksbillshell is worked into jewellery by local craftsmen (Hirth, 1971a).Hunting intensity The absolute intensity of turtle hunting in Tonga isnot known, but a survey by Braley (1974) showed that it was widespread andheavy. On inhabited islands, it seems that the majority of nests are raidedand that nesting females are caught. Egg collecting trips are also made touninhabited islands at regular intervals, and Braley reported fewundisturbed nests even during December and January when they were nominallyprotected. Hirth (1971a) reported that a turtle fishing boat with threecrew would catch a maximum of 2-3 C. mydas during a day at Nuku'alofa.Hunting methods Spearing is probably the most common method of catchingturtles at sea, though nets are used, particularly in the Ha'apai group.Special turtle fences were used at least until the 1950s, but had largelybeen abandoned by 1970. Other capture methods include turning on thenesting beaches and capture by hand at sea after chasing the animal in amotor boat (Hirth, 1971a). Braley (1974) noted that the introduction of thespeargun had greatly increased the efficiency of turtle hunting.Historical trends No direct information, except that Braley (1974), asnoted above, considered that the intensity had increased.Domestic trade Hirth (1971a) reported that turtle eggs were allconsumed locally and that none was found in the markets at Tongatapu.Similarly, most turtles were butchered locally, but those that did reach themarket sold for 5-40 c a lb. Carapaces of C. mydas and C. caretta fetched$8-16 in the tourist shops and those of E. imb ri cata about $8-25.526