World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

ANGOLAPOPULATION : Eretmochelya irobricataAt present no information is available on the occurrence of E. imbricata .either nesting or foraging, in Angola. Carr and Carr (1985) obtained noremains, verbal reports, or any other evidence of the species during theirsurveys in northern Angola (including Cabinda)EXPLOITATIONCommodity There is extensive use of the meat, eggs and carapaces ofturtles along the Angolan coastline, and all species present are said to betaken in the nesting season (Carr and Carr, 198S).Hunting intensity There is no information on the levels of exploitation.Hunting methods Apart from capture of turtles on beaches, there is verylittle evidence of dedicated turtle hunting in Angola, and most are said tobe caught incidentally in fish nets (Carr and Carr, 1985).Historical trends There is some indication that the sale of shells tolocal artisans has declined as a result of stricter enforcement of theprotection legislation (Carr and Carr, 1985). However, as turtles are notthought to be deliberately hunted, this does not necessarily indicate adecreased catch.Domestic trade The shells of C. mydas and L. olivacea are said to besold to local artisans for the manufacture of curios. Raids on shops werecarried out by the wardens of the Direc?ao Nacional de Conserva^ao daNatureza in 1982, and contraband turtle shell products were confiscated.This is said to have reduced the readiness of traders to purchase turtleshells. Some "tortoiseshell" ( E. imbricata ) goods were seen on sale inLuanda, but Carr and Carr (1985) reported that they all originated in SaoTome (Gulf of Guinea)International trade The Customs reports consulted contain no indicationof any international trade in tortoiseshell with Angola, but it is claimedthat some tortoiseshell products are imported from Sao Tome (Carr and Carr,1985).Angola is not a Party to CITES, but CITES Annual Reports contain tworeferences to trade in turtle products from Angola. In 1985, Italy reportedexporting 54 carvings of C. mydas , said to have originated in Angola, toJapan; and in 1984, Norway reported importing one scale of Chelonia sp.from Angola.LEGISLATIONHunting Regulations 11 December 1957. Amended Diploma Legislativo 107/72,13 November 1972; Decreto 14/84, 27 February 1984.All Testudines, including turtles, are totally protected, under the 1972Amendment62