Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata

Threats to survival:

Loss of habitat due to coastal development, including tourism and idustrialisation	Accidental capture by fishing activities	Human predation through fishing, egg and shell collection. The latter is used in huge quantities to produce carey, tortoise-shell jewellery	Animal predation

Illustrations: M. Demma © ICRAM

Tortoiseshell souvenirs, made from hawksbill turtles are still on sale in many tropical countries despite international laws banning the trade. (WSPA)

• Large numbers, particularly juveniles are traded as stuffed trophies.
• Most of the trade is to Japan.
• The meat is eaten, despite being considered toxic in some areas.
• Hawksbills are hunted both on land (when the females emerge to nest) and at sea where they are harpooned or netted.
• Originally hunted with Remora, a species of fish which latches on to the turtle with a powerful sucker.