Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)

• Basics

• ​They have narrow, pointed beaks

• They have a unique pattern of overlapping scales on their shells

• The colored and patterned shells are what make them valuable

• They are commonly killed and their shells are sold as "tortoiseshell"

• They are mainly located in tropical oceans, typically in coral reefs

• They feed on sponges by using their narrow pointed beaks to extract them from crevices on the reef

• They also eat sea anemones and jellies

• They represent a group of reptiles that have existed on Earth for the last 100 million years and are the fundamental link in marine ecosystems

• They maintain the health of coral reefs and sea grass beds

• ​Their removal of sponges from the reef's surface allows for the reef fish to feed

• They also have a significant tourism value

• Why are they endangered?

• ​Hawksbills are threatened by the loss of nesting and feeding habitats

• They suffer from excessive egg collection

• Often times they are killed by fishery-related causes

• Pollution has a significant negative impact on them

• Coastal development has threatened their livelihood

• Hawksbills are particularly prone to entanglement by gillnets and accidental capture by fishing hooks

• Sea turtles have to reach the surface in order to breathe, and many drown once they are caught

• As fishing activity expands, this threat is more of a problem

• Even though they are protected under CITES and many national laws, there is still a large amount of illegal trade in hawksbill shells and products

• Their shells are often used for jewelry and ornaments

• How to prevent this

• WWF plans to limit turtle bycatch by asking fishers to switch to hooks that will not kill the turtles (circle hooks) and make it so that their nets do not trap turtles

• They own an international competition called Smart Gear that attracts creative ways to solve bycatch problem**

• It is also important to protect sea turtle habitats by establishing marine protected areas to ensure that sea turtles have a safe place to nest, feed, and migrate freely

• If governments strengthen legislation and provide funding for sea turtle protection, this species can bounce back from its current state of endangerment

• Satellite tracking also allows for scientists to better understand where important feeding areas are so that these places can be protected