exploitation for the tortoiseshell trade. Unfortunately, the 

 latter is more likely to be true. 



Trade in tortoiseshell is unquestionably the driving force 

 in the exploitation of the hawksbill. Although the meat of this 

 species is eaten to some extent all around the Caribbean, it is 

 not preferred, and is sometimes even discarded when meat of other 

 species is available. As with all other marine turtles, eggs are 

 highly sought. The skin of hawksbills appears to be of little 

 value as leather, and there is no significant trade in this 

 product, as far as I am aware. There is trade in stuffed 

 juveniles, however; these are sold as curios to tourists. The 

 volume of this trade in the Caribbean is unassessed but is known 

 to be considerable in some areas. There are encouraging signs 

 that effective enforcement of CITES at the point of importation 

 is having some effect on this trade (Meylan 1984a) . 



The tortoiseshell trade has a long history in the Caribbean, 

 but methods of capturing turtles are constantly evolving. 

 Spearfishing is a relatively new and highly efficient capture 

 technique that is taking a heavy toll. Because hawksbills share 

 the habitat of lobsters and expensive reef fish, divers have 

 ample opportunity to take turtles incidentally, and can afford to 

 continue to do so even when turtle populations are severely 

 depleted (Carr and Meylan 1980b) . A report on the lobster 

 fishery off the Caribbean coast of Honduras and Nicaragua by Cruz 

 and Espinal (WATS II National Report) reveals that the annual 

 capture of hawksbills by divers in that country in 1986 may have 

 been 5,000 individuals. 



Conservation measures on behalf of the hawksbill have been 

 limited, due in part to the species' diffuse nesting distribution 

 and the consequent difficulty in establishing protected areas. 

 Some of the most ambitious efforts have been made in Mexico, 

 where fisheries personnel have taken great pains to rescue nests 

 from human poachers. Fundacion Los Rogues in Venezuela has 

 carried out a headstart project for hawksbills for several years. 

 A number of other countries have small-scale hatcheries on 

 beaches where in situ protection of nests is not possible. The 

 more difficult conservation measures of protecting nesting 

 females and their natural nests, and enforcement of closed 

 fishing seasons, have been undertaken by only a few Caribbean 

 countries, largely because of personnel shortages and financial 

 constraints. 



Unquestionably the most effective measure for conserving 

 hawksbill populations has been, and will continue to be, CITES. 

 Through its negative effect on trade in tortoiseshell, it has the 

 greatest chance of bringing relief to the endangered hawksbill. 

 An international campaign to convince Japan to cease trade in 

 this commodity could have more effect on the hawksbill 's future 

 than any local management efforts. 



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