Conservation Efforts

Hawksbill turtles are protected by various international treaties and agreements as well as national laws, such as (NOAA Fisheries): 

• CITES: Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), states it is illegal to import or export turtle products, or to kill, capture, or harass hawksbill sea turtles.
  
• SPAW: Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife Protocol of the Cartagena Convention
• IAC: The U.S.is a party of the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles, which is the only international treaty dedicated exclusively to marine turtles.
• The National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service published a Recovery Plan for the Hawksbill Turtle in the U.S.Caribean, Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico in 1993, aiming to delist the species from the list of world-endangered species over a period of 25 years (till 2020) by increasing the female population, providing long-term protection to important nesting beaches, and minimizing threat from illegal exploitation. According to this document, the most important hawksbill conservation achievement in recent years was Japan's decision to end import of hawksbill shells by 1993 and to drop its CITES reservations on sea turtles by July 1,1994. Because Japan is the largest importer of Hawksbills and their shells in the word, this decision would significantly diminish the future demand for the Hawksbills. Also, it's very glad to know that the two important Hawksbill turtle nesting beaches in the US Caribbean are now under protection. 

• Agencies and organizations such as NASA, NOAA, WWF, Sea Turtle Conservatory, National Wildlife Federation, Sea Turtle Restoration Project, ect. have rescued thousands of sea turtles from oil spilled ocean areas. They wash off the oil from sea turtle's body and release them back to oil-free ocean area after recovery. Organizations like The Sea Turtle Conservancy, supported by the National Wildlife Federation, also helps state and federal agencies collect sea turtle eggs from oil contaminated beach area and bring them back to lab for hatch. After hatching, they will relocate sea turtle hatchlings to oil-free areas, such as the east coast of Florida.

Recovery Plan for the Hawksbill Turtle in the U.S.Caribean, Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, 1993

Baby Hawksbill turtle caught from the Gulf of Mexico after oil spill event. In the photo, Dr. Charlie Innis from the New England Aquarium is using a a fetal monitor to measure the heart rate of a Hawksbill turtle during the removal of oil in early June.

Audubon Nature Institute veterinary technician uses a toothbrush to clean oil from a juvenile sea turtle./NOAA

The hole on the beach can trap the sea turtle hatchlings and sand castles can prevent hatchlings from returning back to the sea.

       What you can do to help protect Hawksbills 
                            and other sea turtles:

1. Plastic bags: Reuse or Refuse!  Try to reuse plastic bags or use reusable grocery bags or decomposable paper bags when shopping. Your decision could save or kill a marine animals. 
   
2. Dispose your garbage properly. Prevent the debris from entering the sea from the beginning. 
3. Remember to fill the holes and collapse the sand castles when you leave the beach because sea turtle hatchlings may be trapped in the hole and the sand castles can impede their return to the sea. 
4. Take all trashes with you away when you leavve the beach. Remove recreational equipment, such as lounge chairs, cabanas, umbrellas and boats, from the beach at night. These items can deter nesting attempts and prevent hatchlings from reaching the sea.
   
5. Minimizing beachfront lighting during the sea turtle nesting season (between April and November) by turing off, shielding, or redirecting lights away from the beach.Try to use you natural vision and moonlight when walking on the beach at night. 
   
6. No dealing, no killing. Stop buying sea turtle meat and eggs, souvenirs made from sea turtle shells and coral reefs. Protecting the coral reef is also protecting the sea turtle. 
7. Education is important. Be aware of the importance of Hawksbills and other sea turtles, and tell people around you about the threats sea turtles are facing and ways to protect them.
8. Make donation to a Hawksbill sea turtle conservational program and/or become a volunteer. Organizations and programs such as WWF, Wildlife Conservation Society, Sea Turtle Conservancy, Sea TurtleRestoration Project, the Jumby bay Hawksbill Project, Billion Baby Turtles-SEE Turtles, etc. are all good programs where to donate your love and join as a volunteer to build a better future for Hawksbills and all other sea turtles.
9. NOAA Fisheries: If you happen to encounter a entangled or stranded sea turtles on beach, please call: (808)725-5730 for professional rescue. 
10. June 16th is World Sea Turtle Day !  World Sea Turtle Day, June 16, is day used to honor and highlight the importance of sea turtles (Sea Turtle Conservancy). This day is celebrated the same day as Dr.Arhie Carr's birthday, who is the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC)'s founder and "father of sea turtle biology". His research and advocacy brought the attention to the threatening conditions that sea turtle are facing. Remember the day, June 16, and do something good for sea turtles.