World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

TONGAInternational trade Tonga is nol a Party to CITES, but CITES AnnualReports indicate that Tonga is the source of small quantities of turtleshell tourist products, a total of 33 items being reported as imports by theUSA between 1980 and 1984.Fijian Customs statistics report imports of small quantities of workedtortoiseshell from Tonga in 1971, 1972, 1976, 1977 and 1978.RANCHING/ HATCHERIESA head-starting project for E. imbricata was operated at Sopu Marine Stationbriefly in the 1970s (Wilkinson, 1979). Fishermen at Pangaimotu Island weresaid to keep turtles in an enclosure on the beach, feeding them on seagrasswhich had washed up on the shore (Hirth, 1971a).LEGISLATIONTurtle regulations in the Law of Tonga, revised edition 1967.Turtles and their eggs are fully protected from 1 December to 31 January.Turtle fences must be licensed and must be less than 450 feet (137 ro) inwidth and length, and have a mesh size of greater than 1.5 inches(38 mm)The use of poison (other than "aukava" prepared locally by traditionalmethods) and dynamite is prohibited.Birds and Fish Preservation Act No. 24 (17 September 1974), amended 26 June1975.The capture of Leatherback Turtles is prohibited throughout the year.All other species of turtle may not be caught between 1 November and31 January.S27