Sea Turtle Recovery Action Plan for Barbados - WIDECAST

ABSTRACT
Barbados Sea Turtles …
Barbados is the most easterly island in the Lesser Antilles. Four species of sea turtle are
recorded from the waters of Barbados: the hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), leatherback
(Dermochelys coriacea), green turtle (Chelonia mydas), and, rarely, the loggerhead (Caretta
caretta). The primary nesting species is the hawksbill; leatherbacks nest only occasionally.
Hawksbills nest in all months except February and March, but there is a marked peak in nesting
between June and August. Leatherbacks are seasonal visitors, arriving to nest between April and
June. Sea turtle nesting activity has been monitored over the past five years. The data suggest
that not many more than 50 hawksbills and fewer than two leatherbacks nest each year. Juvenile
green turtles are commonly seen feeding in nearshore sea grass and algal beds, particularly off
the east coast. In contrast, hawksbills feed on coral reef-associated sponges. Subadult and adult
loggerheads are sometimes captured in deep water; foraging has not been observed. Estimates of
population size for non-nesting sea turtles (green turtles, hawksbills, loggerheads) around
Barbados are not available. It is generally acknowledged by fishermen that sea turtles are less
common today than in previous years. The primary stresses on sea turtles in Barbados are
exploitation, nesting habitat deterioration, and, to a lesser extent, foraging habitat deterioration.
Hawksbill turtles are taken during nesting or in nets at sea for meat, eggs and shell. The
shell is either fashioned into products sold locally or it is exported to Japan. Since Barbados is
not yet a member of CITES, importation and exportation of shell is permitted with the
appropriate documentation, although new policy requires that the Chief Fisheries Officer give his
per-mission for export. Discussions on Barbados' accession to CITES are in progress. In
addition to the harvest of hawksbills, juvenile green turtles are caught in nets set a few hundred
yards from shore on the east coast, and adult greens and loggerheads are speared
opportunistically by pelagic fishermen whilst they wait for gill nets to fill. The meat (rarely the
shell) from green turtles and loggerheads is used; leatherbacks are not killed, only the eggs are
taken. National legislation prohibits at all times the take of sea turtles or their eggs on the beach
or within 100 yd (90 m) of shore, and the capture of turtles weighing less than 30 lbs (13.6 kg).
The penalties are inadequate, however, and do not serve as an effective deterrent. Enforcement
of legislation is problematic because of the lack of seriousness with which the offense is viewed,
the difficulty of proving that a turtle was taken illegally, and because of manpower constraints
within the enforcement agencies. Very few people depend on turtle exploitation for a living and
redrafted legislation banning the harvest of all sizes and species of sea turtles, as well as the use
of entangling nets, is presently being considered by Cabinet. If a national ban on harvest comes
into effect, there will be even greater reason to accede to CITES in order to control the
importation of shell.
Hawksbills prefer to nest on the west and south coasts of Barbados, often in beach
vegetation. These same beaches have been altered, primarily by development for tourism.
Buildings and walls constructed close to the high water mark, and the positioning of gabions and
boulders on beaches to protect beach-front properties has reduced the amount of beach suitable
for nesting. The loss of stabilizing vegetation which has accompanied extensive beach-front
development is also implicated in beach loss. Ornamental and security lights deter females from
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