OGREN ; The available data on early life history stages of 



C. caretta was discussed. Dr. Carr's research 

 indicated that young turtles may circulate in the 

 North Atlantic gyre 3-5 years before showing up as 

 juveniles greater than 40 cm in carapace length in 

 North American coastal waters. 



MARCOVALDI: Four nesting beaches of C. caretta in Brazil 



have been identified. All nesting occurs on the 

 mainland. Little historical data are available on 

 C. caretta in Brazil, although historical 

 population levels are believed to have been much 

 higher than today. 



G. 



GIL: 



GILLET: 



Nesting at Quintana Roo, Mexico was sporadic 

 except along the central portion of the state, 

 where the most nesting occurs. Figures were 

 presented on nest success, predation rates, 

 hatchery operations, and tagging data. 



Caution was urged in the use of absolute numbers 

 for turtle populations because of the variability 

 in these populations and in the information 

 sources. Earlier reports of C. caretta in Belize 

 may have overestimated the population. 



Habitat separation between adults and juveniles 

 described by Ehrhart for the Indian River System, 

 Florida apparently does not occur in South 

 Carolina or Georgia because both size classes are 

 caught in trawl by the shrimping industry. 



The chair opened the discussion to the national 

 representatives . 



S. MURPHY; 



FRETEY ; 



ROSS ; 



S. MURPHY; 



(National Representative of French Guiana) 

 Tagging programs in the Mediterranean Sea and 

 human impacts on sea turtle populations in that 

 area were discussed. Tourism and incidental catch 

 were noted as specific problems. The European 

 community was willing to help solve these 

 problems. Spain and Italy were working together 

 on the fishing problem. 



Intra-governmental cooperation in Oman has been 

 achieved. This is extremely important to foster. 



Ross and Limpus were questioned about trawling 

 mortality in their areas and asked if southeast 

 U.S. populations could be gauged against their 

 populations. 



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