World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

us VIRGIN ISLANDSTrends in nesting numbers HawksbiiL nosLirig populations wore believed tohave buen greatly depleted by a once burgeoning market for all sea turtleproducts, including eggs (Small, 1982). Boulon (inlitj.^, 9 February 1986)considered the present day nesting population to be increasing.Nesting season Nesting reported by Boulon (IQS'i) occurred May-October onSt Croix, June November on St Thomas, and May/June November/December onSt John. Within the Virgin Islands National Park (St John), nesting in 1980occurred early June late December (Small, 1982). In 1980 and 1981, nestingwithin Buck Island Reef National Monument occurred early May-late December(Small, 1982).Foraging sites Foraging sites were identified at Francis Bay, Maho Bay,Caheol Bay, Crux Bay, Brown Bay, Hawksnest Bay and Salt Pond Bay on St Johnand at Magen's Bay on St Thomas. Bacon (1981) reported foraging at BuckIsland Reef. Carr _e^_alL (1982) noted that coral reef and seagrass habitatswere widespread and that Hawksbills were found throughout the area.THREATSSmall (1982) considered the level of predation by mongooses to be such thatthe sea turtle nesting population at Buck Island was in jeopardy. Otherthreats came from human poaching, beach erosion and predation by dogs(Boulon, 198^); and from the destruction of nesting habitats by developmentthat supported tourism and an ever-growing local population (Small, 1982).EXPLOITATIONCommodity Boulon (In litt . , 9 February 1986) reported that Indigenoussea turtle populations were not harvested in the US Virgin Islands. Small(1982) did, however, report that sea turtle eggs were taken on nestingbeaches on St Croix and Buck Island.Hunting intensity Small (1982) reported the finding of seven nests onBuck Island In 1981 that had been poached by humans; six of these were foundon one day and it was considered possible that many more than seven nestswere robbed during the year.Hunting methods See above.Domestic trade There appears to be no domestic trade in sea turtles ortheir products.International trade There is no reported trade involving sea turtles ortheir products to or from the US Virgin Islands. These Islands are coveredby the USA's ratification of CITKS (14 April 197/1). Clarke ( in litt. ,26 August 1986) suspected some illegal trade between the British and USVirgin Islands.RANCHING/HATCHERIESHead-start projects involving Green Turtles and Hawksbills were in progressin the early 1980s (Boulon, unpublished).547