MARQUE Z ; There are going to be problems implementing it. 



In Mexico, if we put a size limit on olive ridleys 

 of say 30-40 cm, fishermen will think that we are 

 crazy. This model probably is not applicable to 

 all species. 



FINLAY ; He thanked N. Frazer for presenting his management 



option to us and agreed with him. Models are used 

 whether we think so or not. With education, the 

 closed season initially could be extended for sea 

 turtles and then a moratorium could be 

 implemented. A dramatic decline of sea turtles 

 has not occurred in some areas. In those areas a 

 moratorium may not be necessary. In Mexico and 

 South America, a moratorium is years away. In 

 Grenada the closed season should be lengthened for 

 two years and then a moratorium should be 

 implemented. 



ECKERT ; That was done 8-9 months ago in the British Virgin 



Islands, and eventually people may get used to the 

 idea. Why are we afraid of a backlash from 

 fishermen? They already have fisheries 

 regulations that they must live with. The way 

 marine resources are exploited in general may be 

 wrong . 



AGARDY: The cause of sporadic declines in local areas 



needs to be determined. Are they natural 

 fluctuations or are they real declines in 

 populations? Tagging and genetic studies can 

 provide valuable information on this. 



CINTRON ; These models are just a series of approximations, 

 and must be applied to sea turtle populations 

 extremely carefully. Our experience should be the 

 basis for determining which management options to 

 implement and for adjusting the models to this 

 experience. The models can also be used to test 

 the effects of management rather than to determine 

 choice of management options. 



BURNETTE-HERKES ; Bermuda has been manipulating sea turtle stocks 



for 350 years. In 1973 a moratorium was put into 

 place. This has been very expensive to do but it 

 was worth the cost to preserve our sea turtle 

 stocks. 



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