World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

mydasus PACIFIC ISLANDSJARVISISLANDThe island is uninhabited, but residents in 1935 reported that a fewC. niydas bred along, Ihc west coast (Balazs, 198^c). Jarvis Island,including lA l'\'\ ha of the surrounding sea, has been declared aNational Wildlife Kefugc.JOHNSTON ATOLLGreen Turtles forage in the wator-s around Johnston Atoll, but nestinghas never been confirmed. Tracks and diggings have been observed atSand Island, though it was not ascertained whether eggs were laid. Outof a total of '?\ turtles captured during two months of survey, 14 weremature adults. The provenance of the turtles foraging around theisland is not known as no tagged turtle has ever been found. There isno evidence of any commercial exploitation of turtles ever having takenplace. Between 1967 and 1976, a total of about 60 were captured andeaten by the military personnel on the island. Since 1976, the islandhas been declared a National Wildlife Refuge and all capture of turtleshas been prohibited (Balazs, 1985).HOWLAND AND BAKER REEFSBoth islands are now uninhabited, but residents in 1935 reported thatturtles were abundant around Howland (Balazs, 1982c). C_._nrydas is saidto have been observed inshore around Baker (lUCN, 1985). Feral catsinhabit both islands and might prey on hatchlings if nesting occurs.The islands were declared National Wildlife Refuges in 1974 (Balazs,1982c). The reserves extend to cover 11 800 and 11 459 ha of seaaround the two islands respectively.PALMYRA ISLANDPalmyra has a small resident human population manning the copraplantation. Green Turtles are regularly observed foraging around theisland, but nesting has never been recorded (Balazs, 1982c).WAKE ISLANDWake Island supports a USA Air Force base. Turtles have never beenrecorded nesting but immature and adult C . are regularly observedforaging in and around the atoll (Balazs, 1982c).International trade The US Pacific Islands are covered by the USA'sratification of CITES. CITES Annual Reports do not distinguish betweenthese Pacific islands and the rest of the Trust Territory.545