World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

VENEZUELAInternational trade Venezuela acceded to CITES on 20 July 1976. CITESAnnual Reports have recorded a total of six shells of C. mydas imported fromVenezuela by the USA and Switzerland. Italy has consistently reportedexporting leather items made from C. mydas skin to Venezuela: 38 handbags in1983, 220 items in 1981 and 45 handbags in 1980. And the Cayman Islandsreported exporting 20 lb (9 kg) of C. mydas oil to Venezuela in 1980.Most of the international trade in turtle products has involved turtlesremoved from the offshore islands by visiting foreign ships, notablyDominica, St Lucia, Martinique and the Netherlands Antilles (see above).Traders supplying the Colombian artisan shell-carving industry are said topurchase tortoi seshell on Isla Margarita (Mast, 1986; Medina et al , 1987).Isla Margarita has the status of a freeport, and this may facilitate thecovert export of Hawksbill shell.The Customs reports consulted contain only sporadic reference to trade intortoiseshell with Venezuela. In 1976, the Netherlands reported importing1 t and Japan has only reported imports of bekko of 453 kg, 68 kg, 2447 kgand 171 kg in 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1973 respectively.LEGISLATIONResolution containing the Official List of Animals which may be hunted,13 November 1970.The following are considered game species by this Resolution:C. caretta , C. mydas , E. imbricata , L. olivacea , D. coriacea .List of Animals which may not be hunted, 28 November 1979.Establishes a permanent close season throughout the national territoryof Venezuela in respect of the followirg game species. Permits to takelisted animals can only be granted for scientific or wildlife managementpurposes: C. caretta , C. mydas , E. imbricata , L . olivacea , D. coriacea .C. mydas also received additional protection with the establishment of IslaAves as a Wildlife Refuge. Turtles also receive protection under variousprotected land designations.HATCHERIESThe research station at Dos Mosquises, Los Roqucs, has had a programme forhatching and releasing C . mydas and E . imbricata since 1975. Eggs areobtained from Archipielago los Roquos and also Isla de Aves. Hatchlings areraised in tanks for 6 7 months before being released. A second hatchery forE. imbricata and C . caretta was opened in 1984 at the Marine InvestigationsStation at Mochima National Park on the mainland, using similar techniquesto those employed at Los Roques (Anon., 1987b).554