The largest rookery for hawksbill turtles in the South Pacific Ocean is in the Arnavon Islands of the Solomon Islands, where approximately 2,000 hawksbill nest each year. Approximately 2,000 hawksbills nest annually on the northwest coast of Australia and 6,000 to 8,000 nest annually in the vicinity of the Great Barrier Reef. The largest nesting populations of hawksbill turtles occur in Australia and Solomon Islands. The largest populations of hawksbills are found in the west Atlantic (Caribbean), Indian, and Indo-Pacific Oceans. Hawksbill turtles often nest in small numbers, and usually on remote beaches. And we fund research, monitoring, and conservation projects to implement priorities outlined in recovery plans. We engage our partners as we develop measures and recovery plans that foster the conservation and recovery of hawksbill turtles and their habitats. We use a variety of innovative techniques to study, protect, and recover this endangered species. NOAA Fisheries and our partners are dedicated to protecting and recovering hawksbill turtle populations worldwide. Today, the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) forbids the trade of any turtle products on the international market, including hawksbill tortoise shell, but illegal hunting continues to represent a threat to the species in many parts of the world. The historical hunting and killing of hawksbills for their shell nearly drove the species to extinction. In many parts of the world, hawksbills face the unique threat of being hunted for their beautiful shell, also known as “tortoise shell”, which is used by craftspeople to create many types of jewelry and trinkets. Hawksbill turtles play a key role in the function of marine ecosystems. They are the only species of sea turtle that can survive on a diet consisting mainly of sponges. Hawksbills get their name from their unique beak-like mouth, which resembles that of a hawk and is perfect for finding food sources in hard-to-reach cracks and crevices. Hawksbill sea turtles inhabit the tropical and sub-tropical waters of all of the world’s major oceans.
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