The hawksbill turtle has a distinctive parrot-like beak. The hawksbill turtle forages over coral reefs, rock outcroppings, and seagrass beds. In Australia the hawksbill turtle is found along the tropical coasts of northern and eastern Australia, from mid-western Western Australia to southern Queensland. The main feeding area extends along the east coast, including the Great Barrier Reef. Other feeding areas include Torres Strait and the archipelagos of the Northern Territory and Western Australia, possibly as far south as Shark Bay or beyond.
Australia has some of the largest remaining nesting populations of hawksbill turtles. In , nesting in north Queensland and the Torres Strait was estimated to be approximately 4, females, and in eastern Arnhem Land approximately 2, nesting females. The Western Australia hawksbill turtle stock is one of the largest in the world with most of the nesting located in the Pilbara including approximately 1, nesting females per year at Rosemary Island.
Monitoring of the northern Queensland hawksbill turtles at Millman Island indicates declining nesting populations however it is unknown whether this trend is representative. Hawksbill turtles have a sharp pointy beak that they use to pick sponges out of cracks and crevices in coral reefs. They mature slowly and may not reach reproductive age until 30 years. Females lay between one to six clutches per season with an average of eggs. Females will only nest every two to four years.
After the hatchlings emerge from the nest they swim for several days out into the sea. These highly migratory reptiles help maintain a healthy coral reef ecosystem. Hawksbills are omnivorous and will also eat mollusks, marine algae, crustaceans, sea urchins, fish, and jellyfish.
Their hard shells protect them from many predators, but they still fall prey to large fish, sharks, crocodiles, octopuses, and humans. Like other sea turtles, hawksbills make incredible migrations in order to move from feeding sites to nesting grounds, normally on tropical beaches.
Every two to five years, female hawksbills return to the beaches where they were born to nest, which normally takes place in shallow waters close to the shore. The nesting procedure begins when the turtles leave the sea to choose an area to lay their eggs.
They dig a pit in the sand, fill it with to eggs, and then cover it. At this stage the turtles retreat to the sea, leaving the eggs, which will hatch in about 60 days. The most dangerous time of their lives comes when hatchlings make the journey from their nests to the sea. Crabs and flocks of gulls voraciously prey on the young turtles during this short scamper. Like many sea turtles, hawksbills are critically endangered due mostly to human impact.
Tortoise shells have been prized among humans since ancient Egypt and, with their stunning shells, hawksbills are no exception: the International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates that millions of hawksbills have been killed within the last hundred years for the tortoiseshell trade.
Though the legal international hawksbill shell trade ended in , trade continues. These graceful sea turtles are also threatened by accidental capture in fishing nets. Habitat loss is another serious threat facing hawksbill turtles. Coastal development has reduced the space available for them to nest, while rising temperatures associated with global climate change is killing the coral reefs they rely on for food. This level of international cooperation is essential to the conservation of hawksbills given their wide geographic range.
All rights reserved. Animals Photo Ark. Hawksbill turtle. The critically endangered hawksbill turtle is a highly migratory animal that lives in tropical waters. It is hunted for its striking shell. Observers may also be placed on fishing vessels through our authorities under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. A stranded sea turtle is one that is found on land or in the water and is either dead or is alive but unable to undergo normal activities and behaviors due to an injury, illness, or other problem.
Most strandings are of individual turtles, and thousands are documented annually along the coasts of the United States and its territories. Organized networks of trained stranding responders are authorized to recover dead turtles or assist live turtles and document important information about the causes of strandings. These networks include federal, state, and private organizations. The actions taken by stranding network participants improve the survival of sick, injured, and entangled turtles while also helping scientists and managers expand their knowledge about threats to sea turtles and causes of mortality.
Because sea turtles spend most of their life at sea and out of sight, information learned from strandings are an important way for us to identify and monitor problems that threaten sea turtle populations.
Within the United States and its territories, there are three regional networks that serve to document and rescue stranded and entangled sea turtles:. The actions taken by stranding network participants improve the survivability of sick, injured, and entangled turtles while also helping scientists and managers to expand their knowledge about diseases and other threats that affect sea turtles in the marine environment and on land.
The conservation and recovery of sea turtles requires international cooperation and agreements to ensure the survival of these highly migratory animals. We work closely with partners in many countries across the globe to promote sea turtle conservation and recovery.
Two international agreements specifically focused on sea turtle conservation are:. The hawksbill sea turtle was first listed under the Endangered Species Act in The ESA 5-year review concluded that the species continues to meet the definition of an endangered species, based on the best available information. In , we finalized regulations to require turtle excluder devices TEDs in shrimp trawl fisheries to reduce sea turtle bycatch. Since then, we have updated these regulations as new information became available and TEDs were modified to improve their turtle exclusion rates.
We have implemented other measures to reduce sea turtle bycatch through regulations and permits under both the ESA and Magnuson-Stevens Act. These requirements include the use of large circle hooks in longline fisheries, time and area closures for gillnets, and modifications to pound net leaders.
See all regulations to protect sea turtles. NOAA Fisheries conducts research on the biology, behavior, and ecology of the hawksbill sea turtle. The results of this research are used to inform management decisions and enhance recovery efforts for the species. This information can help NOAA Fisheries evaluate the effectiveness of conservation and recovery measures, and can help guide actions to enhance recovery. To estimate population abundance, researchers conduct aerial and vessel-based surveys of selected areas and capture and mark turtles in the water and on beaches.
We also incorporate data collected on nesting beaches via stranding networks and from fisheries observer programs. Other information that informs sea turtle population assessments includes population structure genetic analyses , age to maturity, survivorship of the various life stages e.
Satellite telemetry allows researchers to track sea turtles as they migrate between and within foraging and nesting areas. The data help us understand migration patterns, identify feeding areas, and identify where turtles overlap with their primary threats e. We observe fisheries to understand the level of sea turtle bycatch and the ways in which turtles interact with fishing gear.
Learn more about our fishing gear research. Learn more about our turtle genetics and isotope studies. Life history studies include gathering information on such things as migration patterns, where turtles nest and forage, growth rates, age to maturity, and sex ratios.
This information is important in understanding key biological parameters that influence population trends and conservation status. Programmatic biological opinion on the Gulf of Mexico oil and Gas Program in federal waters…. Elizabeth A. This study investigated the impacts Florida artificial reefs may have on sea turtle populations,…. Biological opinion on a permit application for continuing a study of green sea turtle South….
Hawksbill Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata. Throughout Its Range. Quick Facts Weight. Unknown, but estimated to be 50 years or more. Pacific Islands, Southeast. See Regulatory Actions. Hawksbill sea turtle swimming underwater. Photo: U. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Bycatch in Fishing Gear A primary threat to sea turtles is their unintended capture in fishing gear which can result in drowning or cause injuries that lead to death or debilitation for example, swallowing hooks or flipper entanglement. Direct Harvest of Turtles and Eggs Despite their protection under various national and international frameworks, the intentional killing of hawksbills for the wildlife trade and the harvest of their eggs, meat and shells is still widespread.
Loss and Degradation of Nesting and Foraging Habitat A major threat to hawksbill turtles is the loss of nesting habitat and coral reefs due to coastal development, rising seas from climate change, and pollution. Predation of Eggs and Hatchlings The destruction and consumption of eggs and hatchlings by non-native and native predators particularly feral pigs, rats, racoons, mongoose, feral cats and dogs is a major threat to sea turtles around the world. Vessel Strikes As with other species of sea turtles, hawksbill sea turtles are at risk of being struck by various types of watercraft when they are at or near the surface.
Climate Change For all sea turtles, a warming climate is likely to result in changes in beach morphology and higher sand temperatures, which can be lethal to eggs or alter the ratio of male and female hatchlings produced. We are committed to the protection and conservation of hawksbill turtles by: Working with partners to ensure compliance with national, state, and U. Science We conduct various research activities on the biology, behavior, and ecology of hawksbill sea turtles. Our work includes: Monitoring populations through vessel-based or aerial surveys, nesting beach studies, satellite tracking, genetics, and mark-recapture flipper tagging studies Studying foraging and reproductive behavior to understand demographics, physiology, habitat use, and resource requirements Tracking individuals over time to understand important aspects of their life history such as growth and age to maturity Evaluating life history and population health information from stranding and fisheries bycatch datasets Understanding impacts of change in environmental and ocean conditions on sea turtle abundance, distribution, and demographics Estimating population abundance and analyzing trends Monitoring fisheries impacts and designing fishing gear to minimize bycatch during commercial and recreational fishing operations Capacity building and training to share the latest scientific techniques and tools to monitor sea turtle populations globally.
How You Can Help. Reduce Ocean Trash. Keep Your Distance. Protect Sea Turtle Habitat. Report Marine Life in Distress. Featured News Green sea turtle underwater. Pacific Islands. West Coast. View More News. Related Species.
In the Spotlight. Management Overview Hawksbill turtles are protected under the Endangered Species Act and listed as endangered. The major recovery actions for hawksbill turtles include: Protecting sea turtles on nesting beaches and in marine environments Protecting nesting and foraging habitats Reducing bycatch in commercial, artisanal, and recreational fisheries Reducing the effects of entanglement and ingestion of marine debris Reducing vessel strikes in coastal habitats Working with partners internationally to protect turtles in all life-stages Supporting research and conservation projects consistent with Recovery Plan priorities Two recovery plans have been developed to recover and protect hawksbill turtle populations that are found in the U.
Caribbean, Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Plan The highly migratory behavior of sea turtles makes them shared resources among many nations, so conservation efforts for sea turtle populations must extend beyond national boundaries. Implementation NOAA Fisheries is working to minimize effects from human activities that are detrimental to the recovery of hawksbill turtles in the United States and internationally.
Efforts to conserve hawksbill turtles include: Protecting habitat and designating critical habitat Reducing bycatch Rescue, disentanglement, and rehabilitation Eliminating the killing of turtles and the collection of their eggs Eliminating the harassment of turtles on nesting beaches and foraging habitats through education and enforcement Consulting with federal agencies to ensure their activities are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of listed species Two Hawaiian hawksbills interacting.
Reducing Bycatch NOAA Fisheries is working to reduce the bycatch of sea turtles in commercial and artisanal fisheries.
Fisheries Observers Bycatch in fishing gear is the primary human-caused source of sea turtle injury and mortality in U. Responding to Strandings and Entanglements A stranded sea turtle is one that is found on land or in the water and is either dead or is alive but unable to undergo normal activities and behaviors due to an injury, illness, or other problem.
International Conservation Efforts The conservation and recovery of sea turtles requires international cooperation and agreements to ensure the survival of these highly migratory animals.
Final Rule. September 30,
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