Marine Turtle Newsletter

Number 49 April 1990

Editors: Editorial Board: Karen L. Eckert & Scott A. Eckert Nat B. Frazer Physiological Research Lab (A-004) Nicholas Mrosovsky Scripps Institution of Oceanography David W. Owens University of California-San Diego Peter C. H. Pritchard La Jolla, California 92093 USA James I. Richardson

KEMP'S RIDLEYS ARE RARER THAN WE THOUGHT In 1989, 835 nests of the Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempi) were recorded by the bi-national beach monitoring crew at Rancho Nuevo, Tamaulipas, Mexico (Márquez, personal communication). Despite intensive patrols, it was not possible to encounter all of the nesting turtles; the turtles spent a short time on land (about 45 minutes), showed unusually broad dispersal north of the camp headquarters at Barra Coma, and also a new tendency toward very early morning nesting during the 1989 season. Nevertheless, 201 turtles were tagged with Monel metal tags in 1989, and 74 turtles tagged in previous seasons were encountered. Of the 201, 116 were recorded nesting once, 72 twice, and 13 three times. Of the 74, 47 were seen once, 23 twice, and 4 three times. These data allow the calculation of an estimate of the average number of nests per female per season as follows.

Out of the 835 total nesting events, the turtle was seen (and tagged, or the tag number noted) on 404 occasions. Thus, based on the assumption that beach coverage was consistent throughout the season, there was 404/835 = 0.484 chance of witnessing a given nesting event and consequently a (0.484)3 probability of witnessing a three-time nester on all three occasions. So, if three-time nesters were observed on 13 + 4 = 17 occasions, the actual season's total of three-time nesters can be estimated at 17/(0.484)3 = 150. Similarly, to estimate the actual total of two-time nesters, I note that the observed total of 72 + 23 = 95 includes a subset of three-time nesters that were actually observed only twice. The chance of seeing a three-time nester on exactly two of its three nestings (i.e., on nestings 1 and 2, 1 and 3, or 2 and 3) may be estimated as 3x(0.484)2(1-0.484) = 0.363. Thus, 150 x 0.363 = 54.5 of the three-time nesters would have been seen just twice, leaving 95 - 54.4 = 40.6 actual double nesters observed both times. This corresponds to a true total (observed + unobserved) of 40.6/(0.484)2= 173.3 double-nesters.

The triple and double nesters together thus produced (150 x 3) + (173.3 x 2) = 796.6 nests for the season, leaving just 38.4 nests (835-796.6) made by single nesters. So 835 nests were made by (150 + 173.3 + 38.4) = 361.7 turtles, giving an average of 2.31 nestings per turtle. This figure is much higher than accepted literature values; for example, Márquez et al. (1982) calculated a value of 1.326. Later this figure was revised upwards to 1.47 (1.45 for neophytes, 1.55 for remigrants); but it is clear in the latter calculation (Márquez et al., 1989) that no correction was made for the diminishing probability of observing a multiple nester on

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all of its nesting emergences. The important implication of this revised estimate is that the estimated total population of nesting female Kemp's ridleys becomes substantially lower than thought, by a factor of 1.326/2.31 to 1.47/2.31.

This calculation assumes that there were no four-time nesters, and that there was no intraseasonal tag loss. These assumptions may be unrealistic; if more than 50% of the nests were made by triple-nesters, there may have been a few four-time nesters, any one of which would only have a (0.484)4 chance of being recorded all four times. Some of the unrecorded one-time nesters and recorded three-time nesters could have been composite records for single animals. Indeed, Márquez et al. (1989) noted that four nests were sometimes made in a season. In addition, in 1989, 70 turtles (34.8% of those encountered) had at least one tag scar, and while many of these may have been tagged in previous years, it definitely raises the possibility of intraseasonal tag shedding.

The uncertainties in our two assumptions would tend to over-estimate the season's nesting population, which may thus be significantly less than the 361.7 animals calculated. Moreover, since Lepidochelys is known often to nest in successive years (Márquez et al., 1982), one can apply only a modest (and still uncertain) multiplier to estimate the overall (multi-season) nesting population. The population does appear to be a dynamic one, in that each season only a minority of nesting turtles bear tads from previous seasons, and many of the untagged ones show no trace of tag scars and subjectively appear to be "young", although clearly this conclusion could be erroneous. The scenario that seems likely is that the population does receive some recruitment from the 25 years of release of hatchlings at Rancho Nuevo, but that the loss of both juveniles and adults to trawlers is so severe as to negate any significant overall increase in the nesting population.

It is not immediately clear if the 2.31 figure applies to seasons other than 1989. This figure may vary, depending upon the ratio of neophytes to remigrants, and possibly other factors also. Indeed, a similar manipulation of the 1985 data does yield a slightly different result. In that year, 706 nestings were recorded (Burchfield and Foley, 1985), and 212 neophyte and remigrant turtles encountered, of which 57 were recorded as nesting twice and 11 three times. This implies that the chance of seeing a given nesting was 0.41, leading to a calculation of 159.6 actual triple nesters, 56.5 actual double nesters, and 114.2 singles, yielding an average of 2.14 nests per turtle. The modest number of double nesters as compared with the numbers of triple or single nesters is odd, and may be an artifact of a bias of some kind. For example, if some tags were poorly applied and fell off quickly, while those that stayed on for the subsequent nesting were likely to remain attached for the rest of the season, we would get a result of this kind. Correction for this bias would increase the 2.14 figure. The revised value for the average number of nests per season does not affect the overall form of the population trend line; but by reducing the estimate of the 1989 nesting population from 545 or 472 (Ross et al., 1989) to 361.7 turtles, the consequences of the loss of even a single adult ridley become correspondingly more serious to the population as a whole.

The arguments presented in this paper are in line with the observations of Tucker (1989) that on localized, intensively-patrolled nesting beaches a program of "saturation tagging" can significantly increase the estimates of both average and maximum number of nests-per-season for leatherback, loggerhead, hawksbill, and green turtles and correspondingly reduce estimates of population size.

Burchfield, P. M. and Foley, F.J. 1985. Report of Republic of Mexico/USA conservation effort on behalf of Kemp's ridley sea turtles at Playa de Rancho Nuevo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, 1985. U.S. Fish Wildl. Serv., Albuquerque, New Mexico. 59p.

2 Márquez, R., Villanueva, A. and Sánchez, M. 1982. The population of the Kemp's ridley sea turtle in the Gulf of Mexico -- Lepidochelys kempii, p.159-164. In: Biology and Conservation of Sea Turtles, K. A. Bjorndal (Editor). Smithsonian Inst. Press.

Márquez, R., Sánchez, M., Diaz, J. and Carrasco, M. 1989. Notes on the reproduction of the Kemp's ridley at Rancho Nuevo, p.107-110. In: Proc. Ninth Annual Workshop on Sea Turtle Conservation and Biology, S. A. Eckert, K. L. Eckert and T. H. Richardson (Compilers). NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-SEFC-232.

Ross, J. P., Beavers, S., Mundell, D. and Airth-Kindree, M. 1989. The Status of Kemp's Ridley. Center for Marine Conservation, Washington D.C. 51p.

Tucker, A. D. 1989. So many turtles, so little time: underestimating fecundity and overestimating populations?, p.181-183. In: Proc. Ninth Annual Workshop on Sea Turtle Conservation and Biology, S. A. Eckert, K. L. Eckert and T. H. Richardson (Compilers). NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-SEFC-232.

PETER C. H. PRITCHARD, Florida Audubon Society, 1101 Audubon Way, Maitland, Florida 32751 USA.

GUEST EDITORIAL : SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT, THE NEED FOR A UNIT STOCK APPROACH

Two major problems in sea turtle conservation and management need attention. The first stems from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species' (CITES) definition of a "population" of Appendix I species (New Delhi, India, 1981, Conf. 3.15) as that which occurs within the jurisdiction of [CITES] parties. Rather than using this definition for populations of wide-ranging, migratory species such as sea turtles, the concept of unit stock or management unit should be applied. Well established definitions of unit stock or management unit have been used in the management of many migratory marine resources (e.g., tuna, salmon, whales). Whether one uses ideal or working definitions of unit stock, it is fundamental that unit stock be defined, and this is no less true for sea turtles than for other living marine resources. If the best available data are inadequate to characterize unit stocks of marine turtles, geographic regions (e.g., northern half of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico for Kemp's ridley, Lepidochelys kempi) could be used instead as starting points for international conservation and management until more data were collected by the usual techniques (tagging, morphometric-meristic, physiological, biochemical, etc.) to delineate the stocks. Certainly, most marine turtle biologists would agree that coastal States' jurisdictions represent only small portions of any sea turtle species' unit stock. Such a definition of "population" may encourage a coastal nation to carry out activities which may not benefit the unit stock of a sea turtle species as a whole.

Second, CITES is an international, trade-regulating treaty and not a sea turtle conservation and management treaty (Navid, 1982), yet sea turtle ranching (a kind of management) is being considered by CITES. International conservation and management of sea turtles are needed via international commissions or treaties, whether regional or worldwide. These could provide for co-lateral sea turtle conservation and management plans and actions by member nations. An example of the beginnings of such as approach may be the International Accords for the Management of Sea Turtle Resources of the East Pacific (Jack Woody, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, personal communication). As in salmon stocks, reproduction in sea turtles is confined to sites within a coastal State's

3 (Nation's) jurisdiction, yet sea turtles roam the high seas and traverse the jurisdictional boundaries of many nations. Therefore, some parallels applicable to sea turtle conservation and management might be found in the management of Pacific salmon stocks through international treaty. In any case, conservation and management of sea turtles based on the concept of unit stock should be a focus of attention worldwide.

Navid, D. 1982. Conservation and management of sea turtles: a legal overview, p.523-535. In: K. Bjorndal (ed.), Biology and Conservation of Sea Turtles. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C.

CHARLES W. CAILLOUET, JR., Chief, Life Studies Division, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Center, Galveston Lab, 4700 Avenue U, Galveston, Texas 77551-5997 USA.

LEATHERBACK TURTLES DISAPPEARING FROM THE BVI Introduction The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is a declining species in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). The leatherback, the largest and most pelagic of the sea turtles, typically weighs 300-500 kg. The species lacks a bony shell and cornified epidermal scales; the smooth, black skin is spotted with white. The carapace is strongly tapered, generally measures 130-165 cm in length (straightline, nuchal notch to posterior tip) and is raised into seven prominent ridges. Powerful front flippers extend nearly the length of the body. Leatherbacks, known locally as "Trunks", are seasonal visitors, migrating from temperate foraging grounds to nest on BVI beaches between March and July. Evidence suggests that historical nesting was higher than it is now (Eckert and Lettsome, 1988). Some BVI beaches were named after the turtle (e.g., Trunk Bay) and presumably the species once nested to some degree in these areas, but does not do so today. Regular surveys of known nesting beaches conducted in 1987, 1988 and 1989 suggest that the leatherback may be in imminent danger of disappearing from the beaches and waters of the BVI, if it has not already done so.

Historical Background The following history of the leatherback turtle in the BVI is condensed from Eckert and Lettsome (1988). Historically, the leatherback fishery was never as important economically as the hawksbill/green turtle fishery because of its seasonal nature and the fact that there was not a large market for the primary product derived from the animal, which was oil. However, what the fishery lacked in economic importance, it made up for culturally. "Trunking" is deeply rooted in tradition and mysticism; some fishermen trace the roots of the fishery back to the days of slavery. There are several mystical aspects to the trunk fishery; the fishermen speak of music, unexplained movements in the vegetation, and maintain that they see turtle-shaped apparitions in the clouds that point to the beach where the female will lay her eggs.

Leatherbacks have traditionally been killed for meat and oil. The "Trunkers" or trunk fishermen (currently five in number and for the most part elderly) recount that 50-60 gallons of oil were rendered from a "big" leatherback and perhaps 35 from a "small" one. The exact is difficult to estimate because the oil is routinely poured into assorted household containers and the absolute volume rarely calculated. One source reported that 15 to 20 40-ounce bottles of oil were obtained from each turtle. Prices apparently range from US$ 20-40 per 40-ounce bottle. Drinking oil "makes you strong", and is sometimes reputed to have 4 aphrodisiac qualities. The oil is most commonly used for medicinal purposes, generally in cases of respiratory congestion.

The Trunkers await the nesting females during the hours of high tide, believing that this is the most likely time of arrival; the full moon is preferred. When a turtle comes ashore, she is flipper over on her carapace, a machete is used to cut a hole in each front flipper, and her front flippers are tied over her plastron (belly). She is left until morning when the whole village community comes to share in the harvest. Women bring pans to carry chunks of meat home, and the men dismember the turtle and boil it in large cauldrons on the beach to render the oil. Some oil is shared with the community and the rest is sold locally. Sales have dropped in recent years and the lower demand (coupled with the sharp decline in turtles and rising economic opportunities in the business and tourist sectors) lessens the desire of the young men to perpetuate the fishery.

Current Status The unique cultural ties to the turtle prompted initial efforts by the BVI Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour (MNRL) to study and protect the remaining BVI leatherbacks. The Turtles Ordinance (May 1959) was amended in May 1986 by the Turtles Protection Amendment Notice to include protection of the leatherback turtle (which previously had been excluded) and to extend the closed season from 1 April to 30 November, inclusive. Compliance with the new law has been quite good; one violation was reported to the Conservation Office as of September 1989. This involved a restaurant in Tortola selling turtle meat in June. This did not result in prosecution, although the MNRL did send a letter to the restaurant owner.

Beach surveys were conducted in 1987 by Mr. Bertrand Lettsome (then NMRL Conservation Officer) and Dr. Nicholas Clarke (then Director of the BVI National Parks Trust). Nests were confirmed at Long Bay Lambert, Josiahs Bay, Rogues Bay and Trunk Bay beaches on the island of Tortola; a total of nine leatherback nests were recorded between April and July 1987. The chronology of the nesting suggested 3-4 animals were responsible. The exact number cannot be verified with certainty due to interference from local fishermen who had erased some of the tracks. One animal was caught and killed illegally at Josiahs Bay and reports indicate that a second one may also have been captured (Lettsome, 1987; Eckert, 1987).

In 1988, regular beach surveys were again conducted by Lettsome with help from the Conservation Assistant, Mr. Halstead Lima. Surveys were conducted from mid-March to mid-June on the northeast coast of Tortola where most of the beaches suitable to leatherback nesting are located. One leatherback turtle nested once at Long Bay Lambert on 17 May 1988. In addition, one leatherback nested on the southwestern coast of Anegada, the northeasternmost of the British Virgin Islands (Lettsome, 1989). However, after nesting the Anegada turtle was attracted to a street lamp, became disoriented and dehydrated, and subsequently died. In April and May 1989, regular surveys (an average of once every 7.5 days, range 6-9 days) were conducted by boat of the north coasts of Tortola and Beef Island. More irregular surveys were conducted of Guana Island, Little Camanoe, Sandy Cay and Sand Spit. A total of 14 beaches were surveyed, more than half of them on a weekly basis. The field survey was conducted by Mr. Halstead Lima with help from the Fisheries Assistant, Mr. Sam Davies. The beaches were surveyed at dawn and early morning (0530-0930 hrs). No evidence of nesting was observed. It is unlikely, given the longevity of the deep leatherback track, that tracks were weathered between surveys, but it is possible that fishermen or poachers may have obliterated tracks. It is interesting that the Fisheries Division reported sighting one leatherback turtle while on patrol, about 5 miles southeast of Virgin Gorda, around the beginning of 1989 (Mr. Laurens Blok, personal communication).

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The 1987-1988 data represent a precipitous decline from reports of as many as six turtles nesting per night in the 1920's and 1930's (Eckert and Lettsome, 1988). The 1989 data serve only to confirm the trend observed in recent years that the leatherback turtle population in the BVI is fast diminishing, since the number of nests on the northeast coast of Tortola and Beef Island dropped from nine to zero between 1987 and 1989.

YEAR NESTS RECORDED LOCATION 1987 9 Long Bay Lambert Josiahs Bay Rogues Bay Trunk Bay 1988 1 Long Bay Lambert 1989 0 N/A

It would appear that this species has become, or is becoming, extinct from our beaches and waters. The impetus for this regrettable situation is undoubtedly multifarious, including a persistent subsistence harvest, habitat loss due to beach sand mining (particularly at Josiahs Bay which is extensively mined and used to be an important nesting beach), and dangers that the leatherbacks face at sea (plastic debris, pollution, and incidental catch). The Fisheries Division confirmed that two leatherbacks were accidentally hooked on longlines during the 1988 season; the fate of these animals is unknown since they were cut off the lines with the hooks still lodged in them (Lettsome, 1989).

It is relevant to note that the United States Virgin Islands has an indefinite moratorium on the harvest of marine turtles or their eggs, until their stocks recover. In this aspect of conservation the BVI is far behind some of its neighbors in the wider Caribbean. It appears. that there are four major areas in which we must concentrate our future efforts: (1) Continue regular surveys of Tortola and Beef Island, and extend these surveys to other islands: Peter Island, Sandy Cay, Sandy Sit, Guana Island, Great and Little Camanoe and especially Virgin Gorda and Anegada; (2) Expand our awareness work with the public, the fishermen and the schools; (3) Strengthen enforcement capabilities to ensure that animals are not taken illegally; (4) Declare a five-year moratorium on leatherback turtle harvesting. We have applied for a small grant from the World Wide Fund for Nature (U.K.) to hire two local persons to survey Anegada and Virgin Gorda; if we are successful in obtaining this grant, the 1990 survey should be more complete geographically and give us a better handle on the remaining leatherback "population".

The possible extinction of the leatherback turtle from Tortola and Beef Island is too high a price to pay. The economy of the BVI is dependent on tourism and fisheries; the necessary resource for both these industries is the natural, unspoilt, unpolluted marine environment. By degrading and destroying our marine environment, we are not only damaging our environment, Tor ourselves and our fellow species, but also our very livelihood.

Eckert, K. L. and Lettsome, B. B. 1988. WIDECAST Sea Turtle Recovery Action Plan for the British Virgin Islands. U. N. Environment Programme/Caribbean Environment Programme contract #CR/5102-86. 50p.

6 Eckert, K. L. 1987. British Virgin Islands National Report to the Western Atlantic Turtle Symposium II, 12 October 1987, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.

Lettsome, B. B. 1987. British Virgin Islands Marine Turtle Survey Annual Report (1987). Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, Government of the British Virgin Islands.

Lettsome, B. B. 1989. British Virgin Islands Marine Turtle Survey Annual Report (1988). Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, Government of the British Virgin Islands.

GILLIAN CAMBERS and HALSTEAD LIMA, Conservation Office, Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, Road Town, Tortola, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS, West Indies.

AN UPDATE ON GREEN TURTLE FIBROPAPILLOMA

Green turtle fibropapilloma was first reported approximately 50 years ago (Smith and Coats, 1938; Lucke, 1938). The tumors were identified in green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from the Florida Keys and were seen as papillary, arborizing masses on the body surface. In another report, a nodule was found in the lung of one turtle and was composed of cells similar to those in the dermal portion of the cutaneous tumors (Schlumberger and Lucke, 1948). Over the last four years I and several other investigators, including Dr. Lew Ehrhart (University of Central Florida), George Balazs (National Marine Fisheries Service, Honolulu Lab, Hawaii) and Dr. Sidney Simpson (University of Illinois, Chicago), have been working cooperatively to unravel the causes) of this disease. A paper describing the pathology of the disease on a light and electron microscope level and attempts at identification of a viral agent has recently been published (Jacobson et al., 1989). To date, no viral agent has been isolated, but on a comparative basis a virus seems to be the most likely cause of this disease. In mammals and birds, herpesvirus, poxvirus, and papillomavirus have been incriminated as causes of papillomas of different types.

Green turtle fibropapilloma is more than just an aesthetically unpleasing disease; it is life-threatening to affected turtles. Affected turtles are anemic compared to normal turtles and serum globulin values are lower than those of healthy turtles. In many cases, tumors grow on the conjunctivae, cornea, and palpebrae, resulting in blindness and turtles starving to death. Several cases of internal tumors have been seen in the lungs, intestinal surface, and kidneys. Over the last three years I have received several small grants from private organizations interested in the welfare of sea turtles. However, because of limited funding, progress in understanding the cause of this disease has been extremely slow. Currently, electron microscope evaluations of 30 biopsy specimens of green turtle fibropapilloma from the Indian River Lagoon System of east central Florida, the Florida Keys, and Hawaii are being completed and may shed some additional light on the cause(s) of this condition.

The fibroblastic component of the tumor has been cultured in vitro and a paper describing the ultrastructure of these cells was recently published (Mansell et al., 1989). Culturing the epidermal cell component of the tumor has been difficult and the work is currently ongoing in the laboratory of Dr. Sidney Simpson. Eventually both the fibroblasts and epidermal cells derived from tumors will be used in transmission studies. These studies will be done in 1990 and will be necessary to demonstrate that this is an infectious disease. A previous study was conducted at the Museum of Marine Science (Clearwater, Florida) in which cell-free and cellular material derived from cultured tumor fibroblasts was injected into several groups of juvenile green turtles. At the conclusion of a one-year study, no tumors developed. In 1990 various combinations of cultured fibroblasts and epidermal cells

7 will be used. Further, pieces of whole tumors will also be used in the transmission studies. Hopefully, if the disease can be transmitted, it may be easier to identify the causative agent in recently developing tumors.

The increased incidence of this disease in the Indian River Lagoon System (Florida) and in Hawaii is of concern to biologists working with these populations. Turtles showing evidence of fibropapillomas have also been reported from the Bahamas, Panama, Indonesia, the Netherlands Antilles, and Japan. If cases of fibropapillomas have been seen in any other populations, please contact Dr. Elliott Jacobson (address below). Although a virus is believed to be the causative agent, pollutants may be involved in the expression of the disease. Affected turtles are generally found in offshore foraging areas. For instance, over 50% of juvenile green turtles in the Indian River Lagoon System are affected whereas tumors have not been found in green turtles in the Atlantic Ocean, only a few miles from these populations. Clearly, a lot of work needs to be done to better understand the patho- ecology of this disease.

Jacobson, E. R. et al. 1989. Cutaneous fibropapillomas of green turtles (Chelonia mydas). J. Comp. Path. 101:39-52.

Lucke, B. 1938. Studies on tumors in cold-blooded vertebrates. Annual Reports of the Tortugas laboratory, Carnegie Institute of Washington 38:92-94.

Mansell, J. L., Jacobson, E. R. and Gaskin, J. M. 1989. Initiation and ultrastructure of a reptilian fibroblast cell line obtained from cutaneous fibropapillomas of the green turtle, Chelonia mydas. In Vitro Cell. Develop. Biol. 25(11:1062-1064.

Schlumberger, H.G. and Lucke, B. 1948. Tumors of fishes, amphibians and reptiles. Cancer Research 8:657-753.

Smith, G. M. and Coates, C. W. 1938. Fibro-epithelial growths of the skin in large marine turtles, Chelonia mydas (Linnaeus). Zoologica 24:379-380.

ELLIOTT R. JACOBSON, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610 USA.

INCIDENTAL CAPTURE OF MARINE TURTLES BY THE SWORDFISH FISHERY AT SAN ANTONIO, CHILE

The resurgence of the swordfish Xiphias gladius L., known locally as "Albacora") fishery in Chile has taken place rapidly since 1987, and is especially developed in four ports: Chañaral (26°22'S), Valparaiso (33°02'S), San Antonio (33°35'S) and Concepción (36°53'S). This increase in a specialized fishery has come about principally because of modernization of the fleet: vessels with greater operating distances, navigational aids, and more effective synthetic nets. In San Antonio alone there are some 250 vessels dedicated to the swordfish fishery; the majority are 14-15 m long, from 15-45 tons draft and make 7-10 knots. Wooden hulls are most common, but steel, ferro-cement and fiberglass are also used. These vessels are classified as "artisanal" and those of larger dimensions "industrial".

Traditionally swordfish have been harpooned from extended platforms from the prows of these artisanal boats (season: December to April). The use of "enmalle" or "enredo" nylon tangle nets is now widespread, and was adopted by artisanal fishermen in

8 Chile after 1985 to increase swordfish capture during the winter months (May to August/ September) when the fish is not found at the surface and cannot be harpooned. These nets have a mesh opening of up to 45 cm, are 80 cm deep and usually 700 to 800 m long; larger nets can be twice as deep and nearly 3 km long. For nocturnal use the nets are fitted with small chemical submarine lights. The swordfish fishery (harpoons or nets) is virtually inoperative from August to December.

Not surprisingly, a variety of animals other than swordfish are captured in the nets, including marine turtles. Over the past two years, J. L. Brito M. has been contacting fishermen who work out of the San Antonio port and recording opportunistically the turtles which they capture (Table 1). Of these, three Dermochelvs (JLBM Dc-3, Dc-6 and Dc-11) have been deposited in the Museo Municipal de San Antonio (MMSA 486-RE-47, MMSA 476-RE-45 and MMSA 494-RE-48, respectively). Detailed measurements for these three museum specimens, as well as for two additional turtles caught in early 1989, are in Table 2. ______

TABLE 1. Marine turtles captured in the fishery based at San Antonio, Chile. Data are based on interviews with swordfish fishermen, many are based on reports from Sr. Mauro Gonzáles P. Positions [distances], weights and lengths are estimated and were not directly measured. C.m.a. = Chelonia mydas agassizi, D.c. = Dermochelvs coriacea, CL = curved carapace length, CW = curved carapace width, SL = straight carapace length, SW = straight carapace width, TL = total length (nose to tail). ------JLBM No. Species Date Locality Size Observations ------

Cm-1 C.m.a. <20 October 1985 Isla Guarello 15 kg caught at 20 m depth (Anon., 1985) (50°20'S) Cm-2 C.m.a. March 1988 56 km W of San -- drowned in net Antonio (33°35'S) Cm-3 C.m.a. December 1988 74 km W of Punta -- seen swimming beside boat Tumbes (36°37'S) Dc-1 D.c. 17 January 1982 Caleta Pichicui, 2 m TL captured by fishermen, died later (Ferrer, 1982) Papudo (32°20'S) 700 kg Dc-2 D.c. 12 January 1988 83 km W of San 150 kg liberated from net alive Antonio (33°35'S)

Dc-3 D.c. January 1988 W of San Antonio (Table 2) drowned in net; MMSA (33°35'S) 486-RE-47

Dc-4 D.c. February 1988 93 km W of San 1.8 m TL drowned in net Antonio (33°35'S)

Dc-5 D.c. February 1988 37 km W of -- drowned in net; shell with Matanza (33°57'S) fishermen from Matanza

Dc-6 D.c. 24 March 1988 37 km W of San (Table 2) drowned in net; MMSA Antonio (33°35'S) 476-RE-45

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It is remarkable that mostly Dermochelys have been reported and that there have been relatively few records of other species, e.g., Chelonia mydas agassizi (Bocourt). The most southerly record for any marine turtle is from Chile: C. m. agassizi from Isla Desolaciòn (52°57'S) (Guzmán and Campodónico, 1973). Dermochelys has previously been documented as far south as Valpariso (33°02'S) (Frazier and Salas, 1984) and Santo Domingo (33°37'S) (Pequeño, 1967), although it has been claimed that there are records of the species at Isla Chiloé (42°S) (Frazier and Salas, 1984). Eight records here (JLBM Dc-5, Dc-11, Dc-12 to Dc-16, and Dc-18) extend the known range of Dermochelys as far south as Isla Mocha (38°22'S); captured individuals have included subadults as well as adults.

Captures and sightings of Dermochelys by the San Antonio fishery are clearly concentrated between January and July, with an absence of records from August through December (Table 3). This corresponds exactly with the seasonality of the swordfish fishery and is not necessarily indicative of any biological phenomenon in Dermochelys in Chilean waters. Apparently in 1985 in the mouth of the Maipo River, south of San Antonio, a turtle with a "remark" was seen (Mella, pers. comm.). The turtle was presumably not

11 Dermochelys, but no further information is available. As yet, no tags have been reported from turtles captured in Chile. ______

TABLE 3. Summary of monthly captures and sightings of Dermochelys coriacea by the San Antonio swordfish fishery during the 1988 and 1989 fishing seasons, San Antonio, Chile. ------Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec TOTAL ------

1988 3 2 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 9 1989 1 1 6 1 3 9 0 0 0 ------21 TOTAL 4 3 9 1 3 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 30

The observations reported here represent only opportunistic records from a single port over a period of two years. They are relevant only to the artisanal fishery; no contact has been made with the industrial fishery of San Antonio. [However, this may not necessarily be a significant omission. The industrial fishery specializes on anchovey purse seining, normally with 30 km of the coast, and it is said by fishermen that in the San Antonio area turtles are not usually seen this close to the coast] As an indication of the rate of turtle capture, the fisheries technician of the MFV "Poseidon III" stated that during the 1989 swordfish season, their boat alone caught six Dermochelys, of which two were alive; he estimated that the minimum annual average per vessel was one -- yielding a minimum total for San Antonio of 250 individuals per annum (Gonzáles, pers. comm.). Taking into account the fishing effort along the entire coast of Chile, it is likely that the accidental capture/ drowning of Dermochelys is at least several hundreds of animals yearly. There is a growing interest in marine turtles in Chile. It is hoped that there will be increased monitoring of the problem of incidental capture and increased efforts to avoid this problem in the future.

Acknowledgements: Sr. Mauro Gonzáles Pino, fisheries technician, and the crew of the Poseidon III were of great assistance in collaboration and the reporting of observations of marine turtles; Prof. Herman Núñez also generously provided invaluable assistance. JGF is grateful to the Chelonia Institute for support.

Anonymous. 1985. Totuga comestible en región Austral (photo by Francisco Etérovic). Mercurio, Santiago; 20 October 1985.

Bizama, L. 1989. Tortuga sin aleta capturan en el sur (photo by Sergio Benitez). La Tercera del Hora, Santiago; 3 April 1989.

Ferrer, C. 1982. Caleta Pichicuy: Conmoción en playa pro tortuga gigante (photo by R. Contreras). Mercurio, Santiago; 17 January 1982.

Frazier, J. and Salas, S. 1984. Tortugas Marinas en Chile. Boletin del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Santiago, Chile. (1982) 39:63-73.

Guzman M., L. and Campodónico G.,1. 1973. Presencia de Chelonia mydas agassizi Bocourt en Magallanes. Annals del Instituto de Patagonia 4(1-3):439-441.

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Pequeño R., G. 1967. La tortuga laud o tortuga coriácea (Dermochelys coriacea schlegeli) en Chile. Noticiario Mensual, Museo Nacional de Historia Natuaral, Santiago 11(127):6-8.

JACK G. FRAZIER, Programa Regional de Vida Silvestre, Apartado 1350, Heredia, COSTA RICA and JOSE LUIS BRITO MONTERO, Museo Municipal de Ciencias Naturales y Arqueología de San Antonio, Casilla 93 Llo-lleo, San Antonio, CHILE.

SUCCESSES AND FAILURES: CONSERVATION AND TOURISM ON THE NESTING BEACHES OF LAGANAS BAY, ZAKYNTHOS, GREECE, 1989

Marathonissi: This has been by far the best year [for turtles] on the island of Marathonissi; there were hardly any visitors compared to previous years. This is partially due to a posted day-guard, the regular presence of the Sea turtle Protection Society (STPS), and the efforts of the Port Police. Problems with lights from the residential areas of Laganas, Kalamaki, and Keri, and sound pollution from the disco on the islet of Agios Sostis, still exist.

East Laganas: This 2 km stretch of sand extends from Zante Beach Hotel to the cliffs of Hipsolithos and is divided into three sectors (A, B, C). SectorA: This sector extends from Zante Beach Hotel to 200 m before Kalamaki Beach Hotel, and a very good situation exists here. During the day there are no umbrellas and no sun-chairs, beach users possess a high degree of awareness, and there is a satisfactory implementation of protection measures due to a joint effort by the STPS and the Port Police to safeguard the coastal entrance to the protected beach. A few ambitious onlookers try to sneak in at night, but all are denied access. In 1985 and 1986, > 100 persons in one hour attempted to trespass! During the last two years (1988-1989) the number has dwindled to 1-10 persons per night. This great progress is a result of the STPS Awareness Programme carried out through the Information Station at West Laganas and the slide/film shows at hotels (at least 2 per week), coupled with information signs set up by the Prefecture, the Port Police Substation, the "look-out stand", the natural hatchery (in existence for the last three years) and, very importantly, the presence of the STPS team. Lights from Laganas, Kalanaki, and Lithakia, noise and lights from the disco on Agios Sostis, and frequent air-traffic (15 flights per week) to and from the adjacent airport constitute a noticeable threat. Sectors B, C. Things are not looking good in these two sectors; this is due to increasing tourist activities and our inability to establish an Information Station here. During the day there are more than the legal number of umbrellas on the beach and the four accesses to the sea host a number of cars which at night shine their headlights on the sandy stretches. The wardens employed by the community of Kalamaki safeguard three of the four accesses, but could be more conscientious. Traffic bars have been placed on ineffective spots and Prefecture's signs have been destroyed. It is a common practice to meet "curious" tourists on the beach at night, which makes work harder for the researchers. Lights from the residential areas are visible in these two sectors, but the car lights constitute by far the most important hazard. High nesting density is observed in areas hosting the legal umbrellas and beach chairs; many times turtles attempt to lay eggs amongst the umbrellas and sun-decks, some successfully and others not. Virtually all these nests are transferred to the natural hatchery or other safe areas further up the beach.

Kalamaki: The legal umbrellas occupy 2/5ths of the total area, not to mention the ones pitched in the sand during the day. The warden employed by the Kalamaki community could be more efficient in his duties. The lights from "Crystal Beach" hotel, the inappropriate positioning of the traffic-bar, and the noisy and illuminated disco on the

13 foothills of Skopos range are general problems for the turtles. Indeed, the turtles are "pushed" to the west end of Kalamaki beach, which is not optimum for nesting, in order to avoid disturbance.

Sekania: Very few day visitors (< 10) and no disturbance at night. On 22 August 1989 a bush fire burnt the scrub to the sand. Winter rainfall will likely (due to soil erosion) alter the consistency of the sand.

Daphni: This year there has been a considerable increase in visitation due to the improvement of the dirt road and the operation of a taverna open during the day. In August, approximately 50 vehicles per day drove to the beach. Twenty umbrellas were permanently pitched on the waterfront. Tourists evacuated the beach before sunset, but almost any conservation effort with beach users was out of the question because of local land-owners' adverse reaction.

Gerakas: Half the beach is occupied by some 50 umbrellas, 100 sun-beds and a number of pedaloes arranged in 1-2 rows running parallel to the shoreline. All of these are illegal. All visitors are informed by the STPS Information Station, but due to the precarious relationship between the illegal umbrella owners and the STPS, it is often difficult (if not impossible) to carry out the Awareness Programme. It is not unusual for Greek tourists to enter into arguments with the illegal beach-exploiters because the latter refuse to comply with existing legislation. The STPS had to discontinue the Awareness Programme from 9-21 August 1989 due to intense friction and some violence on behalf of the umbrella owners and a number of local inhabitants. As of 11 August 1989, by order of the General Secretary of Ministry of the Environment, the sun-beds were gathered in one heap at the very top end of the beach. However, this has not helped sea turtle nesting because the sun-beds are dragged across the sand, causing damage to incubating eggs. The night guarding is carried out by STPS because the community of Vassilikos has refused to employ an official warden. For the last two years no human presence has been reported on the beach at night. In August 1989 about 1,000 persons per day visited the beach Gerakas. Nests made on "busy" spots were transferred to safer grounds.

DIMITRIS MARGARITOULIS, Project Coordinator, Sea Turtle Protection Society, P.O. Box 51154, GR-145 10 Kifissia, GREECE.

REPORT OF THE SEA TURTLE WORKING GROUP MEETING, I.C.S.E.M.

The Meeting was convened in Athens, Greece, 31 October 1988. Prior to technical discussions, the actions of international organizations concerned with the welfare of sea turtles in the Mediterranean (European Council, European Economic Community, United Nations Environment Programme Mediterranean Action Plan) were presented. Technical sessions were as follows:

Measuring Sea Turtles: the International Commission for Scientific Exploration of the Mediterranean Sea (I.C.S.E.M.) Sea Turtle Working Group recommends that turtles on the nesting beach be measured using calipers (straightline carapace) and that turtles captured at sea be measured over-the-curve. In each case, the method employed should be clearly indicated. New recommendations will be defined at the end of the survey carried out by L. Laurent. The Working Group suggests that biometric studies be undertaken in order to correlate measurements obtained using the two different methods.

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Tagging: Consensus was not reached as to tag type. With respect to validating the recapture of tagged animals, the Working Group advises that a report of the tag number is sufficient and that turtles ought to be returned to the water (with the tag intact) in order to discourage the killing of these animals. As a "reward" to the person reporting the recapture, a personal letter is sent by the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece thanking him and enclosing information about sea turtles. A monetary reward (as is common in the tuna fishery) was unanimously rejected in order not to encourage the fishermen to catch the turtles. The idea of delivering a "diploma" certifying participation in the tag-recovery program won the approval of all participants. Coordination among tagging programs is essential. In view of the central position held by the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, it was decided that every person tagging turtles in the Mediterranean Sea should inform the Museum (Marine Turtle Working Group) so that the Museum can coordinate tag returns.

Estimating Incidental Catch: At present, this research is very anecdotal. It is necessary to turn our attention to research in the area of population dynamics; to do so we need to obtain estimations of nesting populations, recruitment of young turtles, and incidental catch. R. Argano tried to obtain information about the numbers of turtles caught by the Italian fishery, but it is necessary to differentiate as far as this figure is concerned the turtles caught and killed from those released. P. Megalofonou insists upon the necessity of reasoning in dynamic terms, and of estimating in particular the fishing effort and the catch per unit effort. In that case, it is not possible to cover the whole Mediterranean Sea, thus some sampling problems in the fisheries arise. The Working Group would like to establish a Board, including specialists in fisheries statistics, to consider this problem of methodology. The collaboration of the C.G.P.M. (FAO) will be requested in support of this work, and to define a common sampling program in the Mediterranean Sea.

Developing New Research Programs: Recognizing some serious deficiencies in information in certain areas of the Mediterranean Sea, the Working Group should seek to develop and support research in selected countries. In order to overcome problems in training for research personnel, two training levels are envisaged: (1) survey beaches, biology of turtles, population dynamics (this may be done with the help of UNEP/MAP, which already does training in other fields), (2) study physiology of reproduction, hatching, hatchling sex (this is meant for researchers involved in reproduction programs).

Future of the Working Group: The Working Group considers that the coordination is essential for the successful future of sea turtle research in the Mediterranean Sea. The Working Group sees the need for work in two interdisciplinary areas: (1) studying sea turtles within the entire pelagic ecosystem (including tunas, swordfishes, marine mammals, birds), (2) an effort more focused on sea turtles and their marine environment (hydrology, oceanography, meteorology) and their terrestrial environment (geology and sedimentation of the beaches, town planning and conservation of places of interest, economy).

Non-government Organizations (NGOs): L. Veniselos presented the recently created MEDASSET (Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtle) and noted that the group already has support from the EEC, UNEP and WWF. B. Rolle presented the actions of Greenpeace in the Mediterranean Sea, especially regarding the incidental catch of turtles in Spain. T. Arapi presented information about the Society for the Preservation of Sea Turtles in Greece. The Working Group wonders whether the increase in the number of associations concerned with sea turtles is favorable for the turtles, but emphasizes that their intervention is often necessary in some fields where scientists are powerless. The NGOs constitute effective pressure groups, whereas scientists have little contact with the media and are often confronted with administrative difficulties. Strong relations should be maintained between groups of scientific experts like ours and the NGO community, since some of them are likely

15 to act as sponsors for research programs. The Working Group supports the creation of MEDASSET and invites every cooperation between scientists and NGOs.

JACQUES MAIGRET, Coordinator of the Working Group I.C.S.E.M., 138 Avenue de la Paix, 06190 Roquebrunne Cap Martin, FRANCE.

INDONESIAN HAWKSBILL TURTLE RANCHING : A PILOT PROJECT

On 7 March 1989 an arrangement was signed in Jakarta for a joint programme between the Department of Forestry cq Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation (PHPA) and the Nippon Turtle Shell Associated Federation (NTSAF) to launch a pilot hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) ranching project in Indonesia. This pilot ranching project will be carried out on Serangan Island, Bali, and a simultaneous turtle conservation management project will be concentrated on Belitung Island off South Sumatera. Belitung Island will also serve as a source for turtle eggs to be reared at the ranch.

An important aspect of protecting sea turtles is to obtain an economic benefit (on the basis of sustainable yield) that will ensure the long term survival of these species, avoid over- exploitation resulting from illegal hunting, and prevent further deterioration of important habitats. Unfortunately, the utilization of the green Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill sea turtles, which are not fully protected by Indonesian law, seems to be increasing throughout the Indonesian archipelago. Therefore, every effort should be taken to prevent the extinction of these species. Ranching is one of several proposed programmes promoted to protect the turtles in Indonesia by eventually releasing hatchlings back into the sea. In addition, 15 areas for conserving sea turtles have currently been set aside. Another 20-25 sites are proposed to be declared as natural conservation areas, mainly for the hawksbill.

The NTSAF and the PHPA will cooperate in conducting field surveys, managing turtle nesting habitat, establishing the pilot project for ranching the hawksbill turtle and also set up a training course in sea turtle conservation and management. Sea turtle specialist groups in both countries, with the assistance of the IUCN Marine Turtle Specialist Group, will work together to design a strategy for conserving hawksbill turtles in the region. The conservation scheme will focus on two aspects: protection and wise utilization. We hope that the pilot project will provide data, information and experience which will be useful as inputs for the ranching proposal to be discussed at the next CITES conference.

ISMU SUTANTO SUWELO, Forestry Training and Education Centre, Jalan Gunung Batu, P.O. Box 42, Bogor INDONESIA.

SEA TURTLE PARTS WANTED FOR AGE DETERMINATION STUDIES

Skeletochronology has proved useful in estimating age in Caretta caretta and Lepidochelys kempii. I wish to extend my studies to other sea turtle species from the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America and am requesting the assistance of individuals salvaging sea turtles on these coasts. Specifically, I need right humeri of Chelonia mydas and Eretmochelvs imbricata with a copy of the stranding data sheet for each humerus. Humeri may be stored in 10% formalin (buffered) or dried. For Dermochelys coriacea, I wish the right humerus and femur as well as the right and left eyeballs. Eyeballs should be stored in

16

10% formalin; please slit them in the area of the optic nerve to permit the penetration of formalin for proper preservation.

We are most desirous of obtaining whole-preserved juvenile Dermochelys for the National Museum herpetological collection. If you find a "reasonably" fresh Dermochelys carcass with a carapace length < 45 cm, please place it in a refrigerator (not freezer) and call me or Bob Reynolds immediately (202-357-2778) for instructions on preservation and/or to arrange for us to pick up the turtle (USFWS permit no. 684154). We are potentially interested in larger leatherbacks (fresh), so please don't discard these without calling us.

GEORGE R. ZUG, Division of Amphibians and Reptiles, National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C. 20560 USA.

RECENT PAPERS BJORNDAL, K. A. and BOLTEN, A. B. 1989. Comparison of straight-line and over-the- curve measurements for growth rates of green turtles, Chelonia mydas. Bull. Marine Sci. 45(1)189-192. K.A. Bjorndal, Dept. Zool., Univ. Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611 USA.

CAMPBELL, J. A. and VANNINI, J. P. 1989. Distribution of amphibians and reptiles in Guatemala and Belize. Proc. West. Found. Vertebr. Zool. 4(1):1-21. J.A. Campbell, Dept. Biol., Univ. Texas, Arlington, Texas 76019 USA.

CHAN, E. H. and SOLOMON, S. E. 1989. The structure and function of the eggshell of the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) from Malaysia, with notes on attached fungal forms. Animal Technology 40(2):91-102. E.H. Chan, Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, Mengabang Telipot, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, MALAYSIA.

CHAN, E. H. and LIEW, H. C. 1988. A review of the effects of oil-based activities and oil pollution on sea turtles, p.159-168. In: A. Sasekumar, R. D'Cruz and S.L.H. Lim (eds.), Thirty Years of Marine Science Research and Development. Proc. 11th Annual Seminar, Malaysian Society of Marine Sciences, 26 March 1988. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. E.H. Chan (as above).

CHUA, T. H. 1988. On the road to extinction: the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) in Terengganu, Malaysia, p.153-158. In: Thirty Years of Marine Science Research and Development. Proc. 11th Annual Seminar, Malaysian Society of Marine Sciences, 26 March 1988. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. T.H. Chua, Dept. Zoology, Univ. Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 59100 MALAYSIA.

CHUA, T. H. 1988. Nesting population and frequency of visits in Dermochelys coriacea in Malaysia. J. Herpetol. 22(2):192-207. T.H. Chua (as above).

CHUA, T. H. and FURTADO, J. I. 1988. Nesting frequency and clutch size in Dermochelys coriacea in Malaysia. J. Herpetol. 22(2):208-218. T.H. Chua (as above).

ECKERT, S. A., ECKERT, K. L., PONGANIS, P. and KOOYMAN, G. L. 1989. Diving and foraging behavior of leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea). Canadian J. Zool. 67(11):2834-2840. S.A. Eckert, PRL (A-004) Scripps Inst. Oceanography, Univ. California-San Diego, La Jolla 92093 USA.

17 FRETEY, J. and GIRONDOT, M. 1989. The 1988 breeding season of leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea) in French Guiana. Rev. Ecol. (Terre Vie) 44:261-274. (in French). J. Fretey, Fédération Française des Sociétés de Sciences Naturelles, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 43-57, rue Cuvier, Paris FRANCE.

FRETEY, J. and GIRARDIN, N. 1989. Preliminary data on the marine turtles on Gabon. C. R. Seances Soc. Biogeogr. 65(1):39-57. (in French). J. Fretey (as above).

HAMNER, W. M. 1988. The lost year of the sea turtle. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 3(5):116-118. W.M. Hamner, Dept. Biology, Univ. Calif.-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90024 USA.

HARRY, J. L. and LIMPUS, C. J. 1989. Low temperature protection of marine turtle eggs during long distance relocation. Aust. Wildl. Res. 16(3):317-320. J.L. Harry, School of Biological Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109 AUSTRALIA.

HIRTH, H. F. 1988. Intrapopulation reproductive traits of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) at Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Biotropica 20(4):322-325. H.F. Hirth, Dept. Biology, Univ. Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 USA.

IKAI, A., OSADA, T. and NISHIGAI, M. 1988. Conformational changes of alpha- macroglobulin and ovomacroglobulin from the green turtle (Chelonia mydas japonica). J. Biochem. 103(2):218-224. A. Ikai, Univ. Tokyo, Science Faculty, Dept. Biophys. & Biochem., Bunkyo Ku, Tokyo 113 JAPAN.

IVERSON, J. B. and ETCHBERGER, C. R. 1989. The distributions of turtles of Florida, USA. Fla. Sci. 52(2):119-144. J.B. Iverson, Dept. Biol., Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana 47374 USA.

JACOBSON, E. R., et al. 1989. Cutaneous fibropapillomas of green turtles (Chelonia mydas). J. Comp. Pathology, 101(l):39-52. E.R. Jacobson, Univ. Florida, College of Vet. Med., Gainesville, Florida 32611 USA.

KAMEZAKI, N. 1989. Karyotype of the loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta, from Japan. Zool. Sci. 6(2):421-422. N. Kamezaki, Kyoto Univ., Science Faculty, Dept. Zoology, Kyoto 606 JAPAN.

KAMEZAKI, N. 1989. The nesting sites of sea turtles in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan and Taiwan, p.342-348. In: Matsui, M., T. Hikida and R. Goris (editors), Current Herpetology in East Asia; Second Japan-China Herpetol. Symp., Kyoto, Japan, July 1988. N. Kamezaki (as above).

KLIMA, E. F., GITSCHLAG, G. R. and RENAUD, M. L. 1988. Impacts of the explosive removal of offshore petroleum platforms on sea turtles and dolphins. Mar. Fish. Rev. 50(3):33-42. E.F. Klima, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Center, Galveston Lab, 4700 Ave. U, Galveston, Texas 77551 USA.

KURATANI, S. 1989. Development of the orbital region in the chondrocranium of Caretta caretta - reconsideration of the vertebrate neurocranium configuration. Anatomischer Anzeiger 169(5):335-349. S. Kuratani, Univ. Ryukyus, School of Medicine, Dept. Anatomy, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa 90301 JAPAN.

18 LE GALL, J. Y. 1989. Plate tectonics, biogeography and migrations: example of the green turtle Chelonia mydas). Oceanis 15(2):143-160. J.Y. Le Gall, Ins. Francais Rech. Exploit., 66 Ave. Iena, 75116 Paris FRANCE.

LUTCAVAGE, M. E., LUTZ, P. L. and BRIER, H. 1989. Respiratory mechanics of the loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta. Respiration Physiol. 76(1):13-24. M.E. Lutcavage, Univ. British Columbia, Dept. Zool., 6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, B.C. V6T 2A9 CANADA.

LUTZ, P. L., BERGEY, A and BERGEY, M. 1989. Effects of temperature on gas exchange and acid-base balance in the sea turtle Caretta caretta at rest and during routine activity. J. Exp. Biol. 144(July):155-169. P.L. Lutz, Rosenstiel Sch. Marine and Atmosph. Sci., Div. Biol. and Living Res., 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149 USA.

MANSELL, J. L., JACOBSON, E. R. and GASKIN, J. M. 1989. Initiation and ultrastructure of a reptilian fibroblast cell line obtained from cutaneous fibropapillomas of the green turtle, Chelonia mydas. In Vitro Cellular and Develop. Biol. 25(11):1062-1064. J.L. Mansell, Univ. Florida, College of Vet. Medicine, Dept. Small Animal Clin. Sci., Gainesville, Florida 32610 USA.

MARSH, H. and SALLFELD, W. K. 1989. Aerial surveys of sea turtles in the northern Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Aust. Wildl. Res. 16(3):239-249. H. Marsh, James Cook Univ. N. Queensland, Dept. Zool., Townsville, Queensland 4811 AUSTRALIA.

MARSHALL, A. T. 1989. Intracellular and luminal ion concentrations in sea turtle salt glands determined by x-ray microanalysis. J. Comp. Physiol. B-Biochem. Syst. Environ. Physiol. 159(5):609-616. A.T. Marshall, La Trobe Univ., Dept. Zool., Analyt. Electron Microscopy Lab, Bundoora, Victoria 3083 AUSTRALIA.

MARSHALL, A. T. and SADDLIER, S. R. 1989. The duct system of the lacrimal salt gland of the green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas. Cell and Tissue Research 257(2):399-404. A.T. Marshall (see above).

MESEN, R. A. A. 1988. Influence of captivity, weight and size on the migration of neonate Lepidochelys olivacea Eschscholtz (Testudines, Chelonidae). Revista de Biologia Tropical 36(1):97-106. R. Mesen, Univ. Costa Rica, Escuela Biol., San José, COSTA RICA.

MROSOVSKY, N. and PROVANCHA, J. 1989. Sex ratio of loggerhead sea turtles hatching on a Florida beach. Can. J. Zool. 67(10):2533-2539. N. Mrosovsky, Dept. Zoology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S lAl CANADA.

NICOLSON, S. W. and P. L. LUTZ. 1989. Salt gland function in the green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas. J. Exp. Biol. 144(July):171-184. S.W. Nicolson, Rosenstiel Sch. Marine and Atmosph. Sci., Div. Biol. and Living Res., 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149 USA.

RADHAKRISHNA, G., CHIN, C. C. Q., WOLD, F., WELDON, P. J. 1989. Glycoproteins in Rathke's gland secretions of loggerhead Caretta caretta) and Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempi) sea turtles. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B-Comp. Biochem. 94(2): 375-378. G. Radhakrishna, Biochem. and Molecular Biol., Univ. Texas Medical School, P.O. Box 20708, Houston, Texas 77225 USA.

19 SALMON, M. and LOHMANN K. J. 1989. Orientation cues used by hatchling loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta L.) during their offshore migration. Ethology 83(3):215- 228. M. Salmon, Florida Atlantic Univ., Dept. Biol. Sci., P. O. Box 3091, Boca Raton, Florida 33431 USA.

SARACHO, F. ENCISO. 1988. Historia de la explotacion de la tortuga golfina (Lepidochelys olivacea) en Mazatlan, Sinaloa, en el año de 1968 (version preliminar), p.245-251. In: R. Sánchez Pérez (Compilacion), Memorias Del V Encuentro Inter- universitario Sobre Tortugas Marinas en Mexico, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico, 8-11 de Junio de 1988. F. Enciso Saracho, A.P. 1421 Mazatlan 82000, Sinaloa, MEXICO.

SEABROOK, W. 1989. Feral cats (Felis catus) as predators of hatchling green turtles (Chelonia mydas). J. Zool. 219(SEP):83-88. W. Seabrook, Univ. Sydney, Sch. Biol. Sci., Sydney, New South Wales 2006 AUSTRALIA.

SEABROOK, W. 1989. The seasonal pattern and distribution of green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nesting activity on Aldabra Atoll, Indian Ocean. J. Zool. 219(SEP):71-81. W. Seabrook (as above).

THOMPSON, N. B. 1988. The status of loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempi) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles in United States waters. Mar. Fish. Rev. 50(3):16-23. N.B. Thompson, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Center, Miami Lab., 75 Virginia Beach Dr., Miami, Florida 33149 USA.

WARREN, L. M. and ANTONOPOULOU, E. 1989. The conservation of loggerhead turtles in Zakynthos, Greece. Oryx 24(1):15-22. L.M. Warren, Cardiff Law School, University of Wales, College of Cardiff, P. O. Box 427, Cardiff, CF1 1XD, U. K.

WILES, G. J., AMERSON, A. B., Jr. and BECK, R. E, Jr. 1989. Notes on the herpetofauna of Tinian Mariana Islands, Pacific Ocean. Micronesica 22(1):107-118. G.J. Wiles, Div. Aquatic and Wildlife Resources, P.O. Box 2950, Agana, GUAM 96910.

WITHAM, R. 1989. Beach preservation and sea turtle nesting, p.143-146. In: Proc. Beach Preservation Technology '89: Strategies and Alternatives in Erosion Control. Tampa, Florida, 22-24 February 1989. R. Witham, Rosensteil School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149 USA.

WITHERINGTON, B. E. and EHRHART, L. M. 1989. Hypothermic stunning and mortality of marine turtles in the Indian River Lagoon System, Florida. Copeia 1989: 696-703. B.E. Witherington, Dept. Zoology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611 USA.

WOOD, J. R. and WOOD, F. E. 1988. Captive reproduction of Kemp's ridley, Lepidochelys kempi. Herpetol. J. 1(6):247-249. J.R. Wood, Cayman Turtle Farm, 1983 Ltd., P.O. Box 645, Grand Cayman, CAYMAN ISLANDS, West Indies.

ERRATUM:In MTN No. 47, the author address was inadvertently omitted from Manzella et al., 1988. S. A. Manzella, National Marine Fisheries Service, Galveston Laboratory, 4700 Avenue U, Galveston, Texas 77551 USA.

20 TECHNICAL REPORTS ALVARADO, J. and FIGUEROA, A. 1989. Ecologia y Conservacion de las tortugas marinas de Michoacan, Mexico (Segunda Parte). Cuadernos de Investigacion 7, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo Coordinacion de la Investigacion Cientifica. 72p. Available from: Javier Alvarado, Apartado 35A, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.

FORSYTH, R. G. and BALAZS, G. H. 1989. Species Profiles: Life Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Vertebrates and Invertebrates, Pacific Ocean Region; Report 1, Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas. Tech. Rept. EL-89-10, prepared by NOAA/NMFS Honolulu, Hawaii for the U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Mississippi. 20p. Available from: National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161 USA.

LOHOEFENER, R., HOGGARD, W., MULLIN, K., RODEN, C. and ROGERS, C. 1989. Petroleum structures and the distribution of sea turtles, p.31-35. In: Proceedings: Spring Ternary Gulf of Mexico Studies Meeting, March 1989. Prepared by Geo- Marine, Inc. OCS Study/MMS 89-0062. U.S. Dept. Interior, Minerals Mgmt. Serv., Gulf of Mexico OCS Regional Office, New Orleans, Louisiana. 56p. Available from: U. S. Department of the Interior/MMS, Gulf of Mexico OCS Regional Office, 1201 Elmwood Park Blvd., New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 USA (attn: Public Information Unit/OPS-3-4).

PEREZ, RAMIRO SANCHEZ (Editor). 1989. Memorias del V Encuentro Inter- universitario Sobre Tortugas Marinas en Mexico, Morelia, Michoacán, México, 8-11 June 1988. 290pp. Available from: R. Sánchez Pérez, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Escuela de Biología, c/o Programa Tortugas, Apdo. 35A, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.

SAUDI ARABIAN TURTLE REPORT AVAILABLE

A limited number of copies of a Report on "Marine Turtles in Saudi Arabia" (1989) are available. This Report was prepared by Dr. J. Miller, with the authority of the Meteorology and Environmental Protection Administration of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Report presents the results of a two and one half year study of the Biology of the Marine Turtles in the Saudi Arabian Waters of the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea. Copies may be obtained by writing to:

Meteorology and Environmental Protection Administration P. O. Box 1358 Jeddah SAUDI ARABIA

Attn: D. G. of Environmental Protection General Directorate

21 THESES AND DISSERTATIONS

FIGUEROA LOPEZ, ALFREDO. 1989. Contribution a la determination del estatus taxonomico de la tortuga negra (Chelonia agassizi Bocourt, 1868) de Michoacan, Mexico. Master of Science Thesis, Division de Ciencias y Humanidades, Escuela de Biologia, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacan, MEXICO. TUCKER, ANTON. 1989. The influences of reproductive variation and spatial distribution on nest success for leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea). Master of Science Thesis, Department of Zoology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.

TED'S AND THE POPULAR PRESS

Two lengthy articles on the subject of Turtle Excluder Devices (TED's) and the controversy that continues to surround them have recently been published in North American natural history magazines. RUDLOE, Jack and RUDLOE, Anne. 1989. Shrimpers and lawmakers collide over a move to save the sea turtles, Smithsonian 29(9):45- 55 and WILLIAMS, Ted. 1990. The exclusion of sea turtles, Audubon 92(1):24-33.

BOOK REVIEW : "THE LEATHERBACK TURTLE, A MALAYSIAN HERITAGE"

THE LEATHERBACK TURTLE, A MALAYSIAN HERITAGE by Chan Eng Heng and Liew Hock Chark 49 pages, 5.5 x 8.5 inches, paperback, US$10.00 (1st class airmail) /US$6.00 (2nd class airmail) 46 color illus.; maps, diagrams, bibliography Publisher: Tropical Press Sdn. Bhd., 29, Jalan Riong, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Copyright 1989

This thoughtful book is a must for anyone interested in the ecology and status of the leatherback sea turtle in Malaysia. It is directed toward the tourist/layman, specifically the visitor traveling to Rantau Abang (Terengganu) in order to witness the nocturnal nesting of this species at the once prominent east coast rookery. The book is divided into eight sections: 1. Introduction, II. General Biology, III. Reproduction, IV. Eggs and Incubation, V. Hatchlings, VI. Economic Importance, VII. Threats and VIII. Conservation. The format is one of question and answer (each question is listed individually in the Table of Contents), which renders the book unusually useful. Specific answers to oft repeated questions (e.g., "What is the shell of a leatherback made of?", "How often do they nest?", "Are all the eggs fertile?", "How have the leatherbacks benefited the coastal villagers of Rantau Abang?", "Are tourists responsible for the decline in our turtle numbers?", "Can the hatchlings be reared in captivity?") are easily turned to. The authors, Chan Eng Heng and Liew Hock Chark (both of Universiti Pertanian, Terengganu, Malaysia), have worked with leatherback turtles in Rantau Abang for several years and their experience is evident in the clear and concise prose. The book is recommended for anyone interested in general information about the biology and conservation of leatherback turtles, and purchase of the book has the added benefit of supporting research and conservation toward the species in Malaysia. Copies are available (prices quoted above) from: Chan Eng Heng, Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, Mengabang Telipot, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.

22

LEGAL BRIEFS

FINE LEVIED FOR VIOLATION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT: GUAM - Guam's fish and wildlife programs received a hefty boost recently (6 November 1989) when a check for $35,000 was deposited into the Wildlife Conservation Fund, in effect releasing the Fu Chi Hsiang No. 737, the Taiwanese fishing vessel seized last month for violation of the Endangered Species Act of Guam. Approved by Superior Court Judge B. J. Cruz, the settlement, which included a plea of nolo contendere (no contest) by the Captain of the vessel, culminated weeks of negotiation between the vessel's attorney and Attorney General's Office represented by Assistant Attorney General Diane Pierson, who represented the Department of Agriculture's Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources (DAWR). Negotiations centered on the amount of money the vessel owner would have to pay before he could retrieve his vessel.

The 212-foot purse seiner, which docked at the Commercial Port on its way to Tinian, had been under DAWR custody since 18 October 1989 when Customs and Quarantine officers from the Department of Commerce discovered three small [35-45 cm] live hawksbill turtles on the vessel. The DAWR was notified and Conservation Officer Lieutenant John S. Villagomez immediately seized the ship and arrested its captain, Gao An Kuo, charging him with violating the Endangered Species Act of Guam. Immediately after the $35,000 check was certified and the ship was released, Captain Kuo and his crew set sail for Taiwan. The turtles, on the other hand, have since been tagged and released by DAWR fisheries biologists.

According to DAWR records, the $35,000 award is the single largest amount ever assessed any violator of Guam's Endangered Species Act or fish and game laws and regulations. It is also the single largest amount ever deposited into the Wildlife Conservation Fund which is used for the administration and support of DAWR programs and activities. Once commonly found in Guam's waters, the hawksbill turtle is one of three sea turtles found in the area. The others are the more common green sea turtle and the very rare leatherback sea turtle. All are protected by Federal and local endangered species laws which make it illegal to possess, sell, capture, or kill sea turtles. [The laws] also prohibit the sale and transport of whole turtles, meat, shells, and products such as stuffed turtles and turtle jewelry. DAWR works in close cooperation with the Customs and Quarantine Division of the [USA] Department of Commerce as well as with the National Marine Fisheries Service, a Federal agency which enforces Federal law governing sea turtles and other marine animals. Source: Press Release; contact person: Lillian L. Mariano, Public Information Officer, Aquatic & Wildlife Resources, Government of Guam, FAX: 734-6570.

PLAN TO STOP EATING TURTLE EGGS: KUALA LUMPUR-- The [Malaysia] Fisheries Department will begin a campaign to discourage the eating of turtle eggs early next year. The campaign is against the eating of all turtle eggs and not just the famous leatherback or belimbing species. In this way the Department aims to protect other turtles like the green (agar), olive ridley (lipas) and the hawksbill (karate) species. The Department's Deputy Director, Encik Mazlan Jusoh, said the campaign is likely to be launched at the start of the turtle nesting season around March. Although there is a ban in Terengganu against the eating and selling of leatherback turtles' eggs, people are still violating the law, he said.

"All are endangered species, and the future of the leatherback turtles in particular is bleak," Encik Mazlan said. He said the intensive fishing had resulted in the turtles being

23 endangered. "Last season, there were only 180 recorded nestings by the leatherback turtles," he said. Considering that each turtle nests about five or six times, this means that only about 30 returned to nest last season. On the other hand, agar turtles nested about 2,000 to 3,000 times in Peninsular Malaysia during the same season. These were mainly on Terengganu beaches. "The agar turtle can still be saved if we start now. But it is difficult for the leatherbacks, even if we take all the eggs that are laid now and incubate them," he said. Although the number of agar turtles is the biggest, there is a downward trend in the number of nestings. In 1984, there were 4,200 nestings, but it fell to 3,500 last year. The nestings by the leatherback turtles had fallen from 700 to 220 during the same period. The Department has five hatcheries for agar turtles. In Terengganu, these are in Pulau Ledang, Pulau Perhentian and Rantau Abang. The others are in Pahang and Kelantan. Encik Mazlan said last season the carcasses of five turtles were found in Terengganu. They had died after being trapped by nets. Source: excerpted from New Sunday Times, Malaysia, 24 December 1989.

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REPATRIATION OF SEA TURTLE: A large sea turtle Caretta caretta) was discovered last week washed up on the County Kerry coast. It is believed to be of American origin. The Irish Defense Forces flew it to Northern Ireland on 19 January, where it is now recuperating in a special sea water tank, the only one of its kind in the two countries. Mr. Gabriel Kind, a naturalist who has overseen its care to date, wants to repatriate it in about four weeks time, probably to Florida via New York. In this respect, he hopes that one of the international airlines, possibly Aer Lingus, will "take it under its wing". Source: unclassified telegram, U. S. Department of State, Dublin.

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CARIBBEAN NATIONS AGREE ON MEASURES TO PROTECT WILDLIFE, SENSITIVE AREAS: KINGSTON, Jamaica-- After months of exhaustive discussions, 13 Caribbean basin nations January 18 agreed on measures for the protection of wildlife and specially protected areas. At a meeting in Kingston, Jamaica, the 13 countries signed a new protocol to the Convention for Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, also called the Cartagena Convention. The protocol will take effect when ratified by nine countries, a process that could take two to five years, according to Milton Kaufmann, a U. S. conservationist who has led efforts to see the protocol come to fruition. The protocol commits the countries involved to conserve, maintain, and restore coastal and marine ecosystems, habitats, and associated ecosystems critical to the survival and recovery of endangered, threatened, or endemic species of flora or fauna. Areas of special biological, ecological, educational, scientific, historic, and cultural value are also embraced under the protocol. Regulations to protect these areas will include prohibiting the dumping or discharge of wastes, monitoring of coastal disposal or discharges causing pollution, and controlling the passage of ships. Parties to the protocol can establish buffer zones contiguous to international boundaries, but in close consultation with each other, or with other countries which are not party to the pact. Further, the protocol provides for regional states to co-ordinate their protection efforts through bilateral or multilateral actions, including treaties for the protection and recovery of migratory species whose range extends into areas under their sovereignty.

Salvano Briceno, Co-ordinator of the Caribbean Environment Program of the United Nations Environment Program, said a list of protected species to be included in the annexes will be prepared. Follow-up meetings for this purpose, involving technical and advisory committees, are expected in September and October. Another conference of parties to the protocol will then be convened. The list will be prepared in conjunction with the

24 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources [IUCN], which has identified 8,000 protected species. The list for the Caribbean protocol is expected to be much smaller. Governments are required to submit tentative lists of species before March 1990. A resolution was approved for the appointment of an ad hoc group of experts to function as an interim scientific and technical advisory committee on protected areas and wildlife until the protocol goes into force. The 13 signatures of the protocol were Antigua and Barbuda, Colombia, Cuba, France, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, the Netherlands, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, the United States [of America], and Venezuela. Source: International Environmental Reporter, February 14, 1990 (Vol. 13, No. 2), The Bureau of National Affairs, Washington D.C.

VOLUNTEER FOR TURTLES IN GREECE

The Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece (STPS) announces opportunities for volunteers experienced in conservation work to participate in two types of summer programmes: (1) "Turtle Monitoring", involving (a) early morning beach surveys for turtle tracks and potential nests, as well as the reburial of "doomed" nests in beach hatcheries, and (b) nocturnal beach patrols to observe, measure and tag nesting turtles. Field sites: Zakynthos, Peloponessus (Bay of Lakonikos and Bays of Kyparissia), Rhodes, Crete, Lefkas, Corfu and other areas. (2) "Public Awareness", primarily on the island of Zakynthos where tourist influx poses a major threat to the sea turtle protection issue. The public awareness work requires good communication skills (English is prerequisite; German and Italian also needed) and experience in public relations.

Both programme types last from May 25 to October 10; volunteers are needed primarily during May 25-June 30 and for the month of September. Minimum working period: 3 weeks. Volunteers will receive on-site training and will be supervised by STPS field directors. Persons who can see potentially rewarding or difficult situations and react accordingly, either taking advantage of them or heading off confrontation, will be preferred. Technically skilled volunteers are needed throughout the season. Volunteers must be over 18 years of age and carry health/medical insurance. They will stay in camping areas where living conditions are very simple; some locations have large group tents, but it is advisable to have your own tent. Volunteers will provide for their food; in some cases cooking facilities are available. Preference for working sites may be included in application, but final allocation will be judged by STPS according to needs or priorities. Please note: THE WORK IS VERY DEMANDING! Details of where to report, what clothing and equipment to bring, etc. will be supplied upon acceptance. If interested, please inquire: Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, Volunteer Section, P.O. Box 51154, 145 10 Kifissia, Athens, GREECE.

Editor's note: Applications for the 1990 field season were due by the end of February 1990. We are sorry that we did not receive this announcement in time for applicants to meet the deadline; however, we hope that interested persons will alert the STPS of their interest in participating in this worthy project in future years. KLE/SAE.

PLAYA GRANDE LEATHERBACK TURTLE ROOKERY IN DANGER

One of the most important leathery turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), known as "baula" in Costa Rica, nesting beaches in the world is the Playa Grande/Playa Longosta complex in Guanacaste Province of Pacific Costa Rica. On a beach little more than 2 km in length,

25 more than 200 turtles may nest nightly during the peak season. In 1987, Tamarindo Wildlife Sanctuary was created to protect Playa Grande and an adjoining mangrove estuary. Unfortunately, the Sanctuary is "U"-shaped, running down the Playa Grande shoreline and up the estuary shore. The central area, about 1 km across, was sold to a German development firm which has now put in roads and electrical and water lines to accommodate nearly 200 private luxury houses in the Tamarindo Beach Development Plan. Activities of this company have, among other environmental perturbations, resulted in the recent deforestation and burning of important areas of remnant dry tropical forest and also mangrove forest, including areas which are public property, and disturbance to cultural and archaeological treasures.

It is not known how lighting and sewage will be dealt with in the development scheme, but recent political pressure to cut through the man*rove for water and electrical access (despite strict legal protection of this endangered habitat) do not evince a great environmental awareness. Potential dangers to the nesting and hatchling turtles from artificial lights and sewage are obvious. Disturbance during the construction phases and later by large concentrations of residents living virtually on the beach are also of critical concern for the future of the turtles.

Please write a letter to: President Elect, Lic. Rafael A. Calderón, San José, Costa Rica, expressing concern for the fate of the internationally important "baula" rookery and asking that all measures be taken to protect it. Please send a copy of your letter to: Dr. Gabriel Quesada, Environmental Adviser, Ministry of Natural Resources and Mining, Apartado 10104-1000, San Jose, Costa Rica. Please express your views on this important issue as soon as possible.

JACK G. FRAZIER, Programa Regional de Vida Silvestre, Apartado 1350, Heredia, COSTA RICA.

TURKISH VILLAGE REQUESTS HELP TO SAVE TURTLE BEACH, ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE IN MEDITERRANEAN

The conservation group MEDASSET has received a petition signed by every householder in the village of Patara, on the SE Mediterranean coast of Turkey, requesting immediate assistance from the people of Britain to stop uncontrolled tourist development which is destroying one of the remaining key loggerhead turtle nesting beaches of Mediterranean Turkey, a vast archaeological site of global importance and a strategic wetland ecosystem. WWF identifies Patara's 18 km long beach as one of the 17 major nesting sites of the loggerhead turtle in Turkey. Adjacent to the beach is an even more important archaeological site. Dating from 7000 B.C., the adjacent city has been a center of at least four of the great civilizations, the birthplace of St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) and mythological birthplace of the God Apollo. The site is described by Isik, a prominent Turkish archaeologist, as the "Ephesus of the future". The wetland is the breeding ground for many species of bird. All are being destroyed before they have been properly assessed. Already a 7-story hotel is being built on the beach. The petition, signed by every one of the 43 householders of the village and 2500 tourists who visited Patara last year, appeals for pressure to be put on the Turkish government and developers to stop the anarchic form of building. Most of the tourists who visit Patara and the tour companies are British. British people, conservationists, archaeologists and environmentalists must join forces with the villagers to preserve the ecological and cultural value of this unique place. For further information, contact Lily Veniselos, 24 Park Towers, 2 Brick Street, London WlY 7DF U.K.

26 HEALTH ADVISORY FOR FIBROPAPILLOMA DISEASE

Since fibropapilloma may be caused by an infectious agent, adequate precautions are needed to prevent the additional spread of this life-threatening disease through tagging and other research activities. Safeguards especially need to be implemented when using tags that require puncturing of the flipper prior to application. The tool used for pre-punching, as well as any other items that pierce or abrade the skin, should be thoroughly cleaned of residue tissue and sterilized before using on another turtle. One recommended method of cold sterilization involves soaking the equipment in activated Glutaraldehyde for as long as possible and practical (for up to 10 hours, but even several minutes is better than nothing). Since activated Glutaraldehyde is irritating to living tissue, soaking must be followed by rinsing in sterile water. In areas where the disease is indigenous, we recommend that two sets of tools be used -- one for obviously diseased animals and one for apparently healthy animals (nonetheless, all tools should be sterilized). Activated Glutaraldehyde, sold under the brand name of Omnicide (catalog no. 25183) can be obtained from Baxter Health Care Co., Hospital Supply Division, Deerfield, Illinois 60015 USA. Until more is known about the etiology of fibropapilloma and other sea turtle diseases in the wild, it would behoove all researchers to incorporate precautionary measures against the inadvertent spread of infection.

GEORGE BALAZS, Southwest Fisheries Center Honolulu Lab, National Marine Fisheries Service, 2570 Dole Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822-2396 USA and ELLIOTT JACOBSON, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610 USA.

SPANISH EDITION OF THE MARINE TURTLE NEWSLETTER PLANNED

In recognition of the rapidly expanding fields of sea turtle research and conservation in Latin America, an effort is underway to offer the Marine Turtle Newsletter (MTN) in Spanish as well as in English. This new development is made possible through the professional talents of Susana Salas, who is bilingual and has experience translating scientific and technical material. In addition, there are plans to provide recipients of the Spanish edition with an informal "Bulletin", a separate document intended to encourage communication amongst individuals and agencies in Latin America with an interest in sea turtles. If you would like to receive the MTN in Spanish, please convey this information to SUSANA SALAS, Apartado 335-2300, Curridabat, Costa Rica. We hope that the Spanish edition will be available by the end of 1990. All readers will continue to receive the MTN in English until the Spanish edition is ready, at which point readers who have so requested will receive the Spanish edition (and will no longer receive the English edition). KLE/SAE

* * THANK YOU * *

It is important to periodically express our gratitude to individuals who consistently take the time to share published items of interest with the MTN, including newspaper articles, legal notes, technical report announcements, book reviews and press releases. These individuals include Dr. George Zug (Smithsonian Institution), Dr. Richard Byles (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service), George Balazs (National Marine Fisheries Service), Dr. Nicholas Mrosovsky (University of Toronto, Canada) and Jeffrey Canin (Greenpeace- International). The MTN would certainly be impoverished without this kind, unsolicited support. Thank you very much! KLE/SAE

27 AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF MEXICO

Whereas Mexico has historically supported the highest species richness and abundance of sea turtles in the western hemisphere with seven of the eight species worldwide nesting on its shores; and Whereas Mexico currently has over 20 sea turtle conservation and research programs; and Whereas the olive ridley sea turtles of the eastern Pacific Ocean are an international resource that in the course of their lives travel in and out of the sovereign waters of many nations and into international waters; and Whereas the olive ridley sea turtles are utilized as a sustainable resource for local communities in several nations in Central America through a program which protects the long-lived adults and rationally exploits only eggs; and Whereas Mexico has allowed hundreds of thousands of adult olive ridleys to be harvested over the last two decades; and Whereas Mexico is presently allowing the legal slaughter of 20,000 olive ridleys, 99% of which have been identified as gravid females; and Whereas the present legal slaughter allows a clandestine killing to flourish and increases the total mortality to an estimated 75,000 olive ridleys a year; and Whereas there has been a call from many Mexican ecological and environmental organizations to immediately end this commercial exploitation; Therefore, let it be understood that the undersigned participants of the 10th Annual Workshop on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation representing the international sea turtle community from 14 nations support the call by Mexican ecologists and conservationists for an immediate halt to this slaughter. We recognize that the present level of commercial exploitation is not sustainable. This slaughter has significant negative impact on the olive ridley turtles of the eastern Pacific region, the Pacific Ocean ecosystem, and many local communities throughout the eastern Pacific region who are rationally exploiting the eggs of this species in a sustainable manner. Furthermore, we support the call by the Mexican ecological community that the government of Mexico join with all the other nations of this region and the 105 countries worldwide as a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and that the Mexican government move ahead quickly to provide sustainable economic alternatives for turtle fishermen.

* * * *

Editor's note: On 23-24 February 1990 this letter was signed by 189 sea turtle biologists and conservationists from 14 nations; it was forwarded to President Salinas by Earth Island Institute and the Sea Turtle Center. You are encouraged to support the courageous efforts of Mexican ecologists committed to this important issue. Please write a letter expressing your concern over the continuing harvest of olive ridley turtles and eggs, the latter an illegal harvest estimated in the millions annually. Encourage programs designed to provide sustainable economic alternatives to turtle fishermen currently dependent on the harvest. Mail your letter to: President Carlos Salinas de Gortari, Palacio Nacional, Mexico D. F. 06066 Mexico. These turtles do not inhabit Mexico alone, but all Central American nations (bordering the Pacific), as well as Colombia, Ecuador and Peru in South America, and the U.S.A. to the north. Their survival is of international import, and to some degree their fate will depend on the collective actions of peoples throughout the world. For more information, please contact: Todd Steiner, Sea Turtle Project Director, Earth Island Inst., 300 Broadway, Suite 28, San Francisco, CA 94133, Tel:(415)788-3666. ______

Funding for MTN 49 was provided by Peg Barker (Maple Shade, New Jersey), Therese Conant (Bellingham, Washington), Amy Mackay (St. Croix, USVI), Charles Warnock (Savannah, Georgia), Greenpeace-USA, Center for Marine Conservation, Conservation International, and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and are not necessarily shared by the Editors, the Editorial Board, The University of California, or any individuals or organizations providing financial support.

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