World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

VANUATUPOPULATION Little information is available on sea turtles in Vanuatu.Both C. my das and E. imb rica ta are reportedly common in Vanuatu, bothspecies nest, and extensive reef and shallow water habitat is available(McElroy and Alexander, 1979, cited in Pritchard, 1982).Information collected by Dickinson ( in litt . , 8 November 1981) indicatedthat turtles can be encountered almost throughout the group, from Aneityumin the south, to the Banks group in the north. Among his 380 informants(college students), around 50 reported seeing fresh turtle nests over theperiod December 1980- February 1981. Nesting numbers are suspected to berelatively high; this is attributed to the lack of sustained fishingpressure (although it is locally intense), the sparse human population, andlack of coastal development.According to McKlroy and Alexander (1979, cited in Pritchard, 1982), themost important nesting area is around south Malekula, with significantC. mydas nesting and minor E. imbricata nesting at South West Bay (notablyLambobe beach). An estimated 40 120 turtles nest in this area annually.Turtles are said to be relatively common in the Maskelynes off southernMalekula, with regular nesting (species uncertain), especially on Seior andLaifond. The south-east of Epi and Torres Islands are other notable nestingareas. Both C. mydas and E. imbricata are said to nest from September toearly January.EXPLOITATIONConmodity Both species of turtle are exploited for meat and eggs. Theuse of shell is thought to be minimal (Pritchard, 1982).Hunting intensity McElroy and Alexander (1979, cited in Pritchard, 1982)estimated that the annual catch of turtles in the Maskelynes Group, theprincipal turtle fishing area, amounted to 60-120, evenly split betweenC. mydas and E. imbricata . Eggs and nesting females were said to be takenwhenever they were found. The hunting pressure was localised and neverintense, and was not thought to have had much impact on the turtlepopulationHunting methods The majority of turtles are deliberately caught at sea;females are also captured on the beaches. The people of the Maskelynes aresaid to be the best fishermen in the country (Pritchard, 1982).Historical trends Pritchard (1982) implied that turtle catches werelikely to increase in line with the increase in human population levels,which currently were relatively low.Domestic trade There is said to be very little trade in turtle products(Pritchard, 1982; Dickinson, 1981). Hawksbill shells are occasionally soldin the market at 5000-15 000 Vatu each (£29-£88), and a large Green Turtleshell was offered at 20 000 Vatu, equivalent to almost double the averagemonthly labourer's wage (Dickinson, 1981).International trade Vanuatu is not a Party to CITES. The only record oftrade in turtle products with Vanuatu in CITES Annual Reports was when theUK reported importing one carving of Cheloniidae from there in 1979.Customs reports were found to contain no reference to trade in turtleproducts with Vanuatu.549