Marine turtles of the Solomon Islands

Abstract

The Solomon Islands are situated between latitudes 5°S - 12*S and longitudes 155°E - 170°E extending some 900 miles in a south-easterly direction from Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea. The six main islands are each roughly 100 miles long by 30 miles wide and form a double chain flanked by smaller islands with a total land area of 11,000 square miles and a population, in 1976, of slightly less than 200,000. The climate is tropical/oceanic with day temperatures around 30°C, high humidity and rainfall varying from 90-300 inches per annum. Sea conditions are generally slight with south-easterly winds prevailing from April to November, North-westerly winds the remainder of the year, with the likelihood of cyclonic conditions in the latter period.