Status of sea turtles in American Samoa in 1991
Tuato'o-Bartley N, Morrell TE, Craig P. 1993. Status of sea turtles in American Samoa in 1991. Pacific Science. 47(3):215-221
The status of the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas Linnaeus) and the hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata Linnaeus) was evaulated in American Samoa. Public sightings, personal interviews and surveys were conducted to determine that turtle populations have declined, and between the two species, only number about 120 nesting females per year. Habitat loss and overharvesting of turtles and eggs by villagers is the probable cause of this decline, as well as commercial fishing elsewhere in the South Pacific.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Tuato'o-Bartley, Natasha; Morrell, Thomas; Craig, Peter
- Units
- NPSA , PACN
- Keywords
- American Samoa, Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata, green sea turtles, Hawksbill turtles