Location
SPREP LIBRARY
Publisher
The Smithsonian Institution
Publication Year:
1983
Publication Place
Washington, D.C.
Physical Description:
41 p.
Call Number
[EL]
Collection
Material Type
Language
English
Record ID:
34691
Legacy PEIN ID:
74692
General Notes
Available online
Available online
Subject Heading(s)
Sea turtles - Conservation - Tokelau
Sea turtles - Traditional use - Tokelau
Sea turtles - Management - Tokelau
Marine resources - Conservation - Tokelau
Protected areas - Oceania
Protected areas - Management
Marine resource
Marine resource management
Marine resources - Pacific - Oceania
Marine resources - Tokelau
Tokelau
Living marine resources
Sea turtle conservation
Atoll Islands
Abstract
The conservation status, ecology, and cultural importance of sea turtles at the three Polynesian atolls of Tokelau are presented. The green turtle, Chelonia mydas. is the most common species, occurring as a migrant breeder mostly during September through November. The hawks- bill, Eretmochelvs imbricata. is present in small numbers at all three atolls, but nesting is only known at Nukunonu Atoll. A third species, the loggerhead, Caretta caretta. has also been recorded on rare occasions. In Tokelau, sea turtles are considered "sacred fish" (ika ha) that must be shared among the entire village by an equitable system known as inati. The number of sea turtles has declined within historical times apparently as a result of modern and more efficient hunting methods.
Location
SPREP LIBRARY
Publisher
The Smithsonian Institution
Publication Year:
1983
Publication Place
Washington, D.C.
Physical Description:
41 p.
Call Number
[EL]
Collection
Material Type
Language
English
Record ID:
34691
Legacy PEIN ID:
74692
General Notes
Available online
Record Created: 14-May-2008
Record Modified: 24-Feb-2021