World Status, Exploitation and Trade - WIDECAST

ANTIGUA AND BASBUDAPOPULATION:Chelonia mydasNesting sites Joseph et al. (1984) reported nesting at Pinchin Bay,Pasture Bay and Grape Bay on Antigua, and on Barbuda at Coco Point Beach,Continuous Beach, North Beach, Rabbit Island Beach, Welch Point Beach,Rubbish Bay, Castle Bay, Pelican Bay, Spanish Point, and Hog Point to TwoFeet Bay. Meylan (1983) also reported nesting at Long Bay on Antigua andfrom Billy Point to the River on the west coast of Barbuda.Nesting numbers Joseph et al. (1984) estimated the number of nestingfemales on Antigua and Barbuda in 1982 to be 39. Massington ( in litt .30 September 1986) considered nesting Green Turtles to be of low abundanceand Meylan (1983) reported the nesting density of Green Turtles andHawlcsbills on Barbuda to be probably higher than on any other Leeward Islandbut considered absolute numbers to be "very modest".Trends in nesting numbers Massington ( in litt. . 30 September 1986)considered the Green Turtle nesting population to be in decline. Catoet al. (1978, cited in Meylan, 1983) noted a decline in the number of seaturtles nesting on Antigua.Nesting season Joseph et al (1984) reported nesting in June and July onAntigua and from May to November on Barbuda.Foraging sites Joseph et al. (1984) considered the whole of thecontinental shelf around Antigua and Barbuda to be suitable foraging habitatall year round. Green Turtles were the most common species in the watersaround Antigua and Barbuda according to Meylan (1983), who reported probableforaging at Welch Point and at the entrance to Codrington Lagoon on Barbuda,and particularly good foraging habitat in the bays of the northern coast ofAntigua. Meylan (1983) also reported foraging on the western and southerncoasts of Antigua at Hawksbill Bay, Pinching Bay, Dark Wood, Urlings, andMount Carmel.POPULATION : Eretmochelys imbricataNesting sites Joseph et al (1984) reported nesting on Antigua atCarlise Bay, Morris Bay, Crabb Hill Bay, Darkwood Beach, Fryes Bay, ValleyChurch Bay, Pearns, Pinchin Bay, Runaway Bay, Pasture Bay, Grape Bay, LongBay, Hog Hole, Green Island, Mill Reef, Indian Creek., Windward Bay, P14ppeBay, Turtle Bay, Rendezvous Bay, and Tucks Bay; and nesting on Barbuda atCoco Point, Spanish Well Point, Continuous Beach, North Beach, Rabbit IslandBeach, Rubbish Bay, Castle Bay, Welch Point Bay, Pelican Bay, Spanish Point,and from Hog Point to Two Feet Bay. Nesting sites were reported, by Meylan(1983), along the shore from Billy Point to the River on Barbuda, and aroundFive Islands Village on Antigua at Galley Bay, Landing Bay, Hawksbill Bay,Pinchin Bay (reported to be the best), and Long Bay.Nesting numbers Massington ( in litt. , 30 September 1986) considerednesting Hawksbills to be of low abundance. Joseph et al (1984) estimatedthe number of nesting females on Antigua and Barbuda in 1982 to be 76.According to Meylan (1983), the nesting density of Green Turtles andHawksbills on Barbuda was probably greater than elsewhere in the LeewardsIslands, but absolute numbers were still "very modest".Trends in nesting numbers Massington ( in litt , 30 September 1986)considered the Hawksbill nesting population to be in decline. Cato et al66