The Hawksbill Sea Turtle: Decades Of Endangered Status

The hawksbill sea turtle has been listed as endangered since 1970. It is considered the most tropical of the sea turtles and is found in warm waters across the world, particularly in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. The hawksbill sea turtle is prized for its beautiful shell, which is used to make jewellery and other decorative items. It is also hunted for its meat and eggs. Other threats to the hawksbill sea turtle include by-catch, ghost fishing, coastal development, and climate change.

The impact of human fishing practices

Hawksbills are particularly susceptible to entanglement in gillnets and accidental capture on fishing hooks. As they need to reach the surface to breathe, many turtles drown once caught. With the expansion of fishing activity, this issue is becoming more prevalent.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is working to reduce turtle bycatch by encouraging fisheries to switch to more turtle-friendly hooks and advocating for the use of special turtle excluder devices in nets. They are also running an international competition, known as Smart Gear, to find innovative solutions to bycatch problems.

In addition to bycatch, hawksbills continue to be exploited for food and their shells, despite protection under various national and international frameworks. Their shells are highly valued and commonly sold as "tortoiseshell" in markets. The meat of hawksbills can be toxic to humans due to the sponges they eat, but this does not stop the harvesting of hawksbills for meat.

The illegal trade of hawksbill shells and products is still a significant problem, with a large amount of trade occurring throughout the tropics and in eastern Asia. The unique pattern of overlapping scales on their shells makes them highly desirable for decorative items such as jewellery and ornaments.

To address the illegal wildlife trade, WWF works with communities to reduce turtle harvesting and local trade, raise awareness about the threats hawksbills face, and develop alternative livelihoods for those dependent on turtle products for income. They also work to stop the illegal trade of hawksbill products through TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network.

Overall, human fishing practices have had a devastating impact on hawksbill sea turtles, contributing significantly to their endangered status.

The illegal trade of hawksbill shells

The hawksbill sea turtle has been listed as critically endangered since 1996, and its trade has been prohibited by CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) since 1977. Despite this, the illegal trade of hawksbill shells continues to threaten the species.

The hawksbill sea turtle is named for its narrow, pointed beak and its distinctive shell, which consists of overlapping scales coloured with streaks of gold, brown, orange and red. The shell, also known as 'tortoiseshell', is highly valued and has historically been used to make jewellery, trinkets, combs, and other luxury items. The ancient Romans, for example, fashioned the scales into combs and rings.

The hawksbill sea turtle is particularly associated with warm tropical waters and is found in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans. The largest concentrations of nesting females are found in the Caribbean region, which accounts for between 20 and 30 percent of the population.

To combat the illegal trade, organisations such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) work with communities to reduce turtle harvesting and local trade. WWF also works to stop the illegal trade of hawksbill products through TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, and collaborates with governments to strengthen legislation and provide funding for sea turtle protection.

In addition to the illegal trade of shells, hawksbill sea turtles face threats such as the loss of nesting and feeding habitats, excessive egg collection, fishery-related mortality, pollution, and coastal development. These threats have led to a sharp decline in the hawksbill population, and conservation efforts are ongoing to protect and recover the species.

The impact of coastal development

Hawksbill sea turtles (*Eretmochelys imbricata*) are critically endangered, and coastal development is one of the primary factors contributing to their endangerment. Coastal development often results in the loss and degradation of nesting habitats, which are essential for the survival of hawksbill sea turtles.

Loss of Nesting Habitat

Coastal development activities, such as the construction of seawalls and other shoreline hardening or armoring structures, can lead to the complete loss of dry sand areas suitable for successful nesting. Hawksbill sea turtles prefer to nest on small, remote beaches with little to no sand and a rocky approach. These areas are particularly vulnerable to coastal development projects. The alteration of natural shorelines can destroy potential nesting sites and displace hawksbill sea turtles, making it difficult for them to find suitable locations to lay their eggs.

Degradation of Nesting Habitat

In addition to the loss of nesting sites, coastal development can also degrade the quality of existing nesting habitats. Artificial lighting from buildings, streetlights, and other sources can deter female hawksbills from coming ashore to nest. The bright lights can disorient both nesting females and newly hatched turtles, making them vulnerable to predators and hindering their ability to reach the ocean.

Furthermore, coastal development can increase pollution levels in the surrounding environment, including light and noise pollution, which can disrupt the natural behaviors of hawksbill sea turtles.

Impact on Coral Reefs

Hawksbill sea turtles are closely associated with coral reefs, which provide them with food and shelter. Coastal development can indirectly impact these coral reef habitats through rising sea levels and increased storm intensity due to climate change. As sea levels rise, coastal development can exacerbate the erosion of nesting beaches and inundation of nests. Additionally, the runoff of pollutants and sediments from construction sites can harm coral reef ecosystems, reducing the availability of prey and suitable habitats for hawksbill sea turtles.

Impact on Food Sources

Coastal development can also affect the availability of food sources for hawksbill sea turtles. The construction of coastal infrastructure, such as seawalls and breakwaters, can alter nearshore currents and sediment transport, impacting the distribution of sponges and other prey items that hawksbills rely on. Additionally, pollution from coastal development can contaminate the water, reducing the quality and quantity of food sources for hawksbills.

Displacement and Habitat Fragmentation

Coastal development can also lead to the displacement of hawksbill sea turtles and the fragmentation of their habitats. As natural coastal areas are converted for human use, hawksbills may be forced to relocate, disrupting their natural behaviors and life cycles. This fragmentation can isolate populations, reduce genetic diversity, and make it difficult for hawksbills to find suitable habitats for feeding, nesting, and breeding.

In conclusion, coastal development poses a significant threat to hawksbill sea turtles by causing the loss and degradation of nesting habitats, impacting coral reefs and food sources, and leading to displacement and habitat fragmentation. Addressing these issues is crucial for the conservation and recovery of hawksbill sea turtle populations worldwide.

The threat of by-catch and ghost fishing

The hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a critically endangered species of sea turtle that has been protected under the Endangered Species Act since 1970. One of the primary threats to the hawksbill sea turtle is by-catch, or unintended capture in fishing gear, which often results in drowning or fatal injuries. The types of fishing gear that most commonly lead to by-catch of hawksbill turtles include gillnets and hook and line fisheries operating in coastal habitats. As fishing activity expands, the threat of by-catch becomes more significant.

Hawksbill sea turtles are particularly susceptible to entanglement in gillnets and accidental capture on fishing hooks. Sea turtles need to reach the surface to breathe, so they often drown once caught in fishing gear. The use of circle-shaped hooks instead of J-shaped hooks can significantly reduce the by-catch of turtles in longline fisheries. Additionally, the implementation of turtle excluder devices in nets can help reduce by-catch.

Ghost fishing, or the accidental capture of marine creatures by lost or abandoned fishing gear, also poses a threat to hawksbill sea turtles. Lost or discarded fishing gear, such as gillnets, longlines, and trawls, can entangle and kill hawksbill sea turtles.

To address the issue of by-catch and ghost fishing, organizations like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) work with fisheries to adopt more turtle-friendly practices and gear modifications. WWF's Smart Gear competition attracts creative new ideas to reduce by-catch and advance the best solutions. NOAA Fisheries is also working to reduce the by-catch of sea turtles in commercial and artisanal fisheries by documenting by-catch, understanding how and why turtles interact with fishing gear, and developing modifications to fishing gear and practices to reduce by-catch and injuries.

The hawksbill sea turtle population has declined by an estimated 80% in the past 100-135 years, and the threat of by-catch and ghost fishing continues to be a significant concern for the conservation of this endangered species.

Climate change and coral bleaching

Coral bleaching occurs when coral reefs are exposed to warmer ocean temperatures. This causes the coral to expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, resulting in the loss of their vibrant colours and an increase in coral disease and death. As hawksbills feed primarily on sponges found on coral reefs, the loss of these ecosystems poses a significant threat to their food sources.

In addition to the direct impact on their food resources, rising temperatures also affect the gender ratio of hawksbill hatchlings. Sea turtles are reptiles, so the temperature of the sand in which their eggs incubate determines the gender of the hatchlings. Warmer temperatures result in a higher number of female hatchlings, creating a significant threat to the genetic diversity of the species.

The effects of climate change on hawksbills are not limited to rising temperatures. Increased rainfall can suffocate embryos, and both higher temperatures and increased rainfall can cause nests to cave in. Furthermore, coastal development, rising sea levels, and more intense storms due to climate change are resulting in the erosion of nesting beach habitats and nest inundation. These factors are jeopardising the ability of hawksbills to adapt by shifting their nesting grounds and seasons.

To protect hawksbills from the impacts of climate change, it is essential to reduce coastal construction and protect coastal habitats. Additionally, reducing human impacts on dune structures and beach vegetation, as well as minimising trash and microplastics on beaches, can help create a higher-quality nesting and incubating environment for hawksbills.

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