Survey of Leatherback Turtle Nesting Sites in 1990

Morris, A

The leatherback turtle is culturally one of the most important animals found in the B.V.I. The fishery turtles has been occurring for centuries in our islands, and ancient mysticism and superstitions surround it. It appears, however, from surveys conducted over the last four years, that the leatherback turtle, the most endangered of all sea turtles, is becoming extinct in the B.V.I In 1990, aerial and ground surveys were conducted regularly of all known leatherback nesting sites in the BVI. The 1990 survey showed only three confirmed nestings at Trunk Bay, Tortola, these nests could have been made by the same female. There are many reasons for this decline in numbers, these include plastic pollution in the marine environment, over fishing, development of nesting beaches, and the illegal taking of both eggs and nesting females. In the light of the survey results over the last four years, an amendment has been drafted to the Turtles Ordinance declaring a total moratorium on leatherback turtle fisheries. This amendement should come into law early in 1991.