Hawksbill Sea Turtles are the most beautiful sea turtles that reside in tropical waters. However, these sea turtles are more associated with coral reefs than other species. So, where can you find Hawksbill Sea Turtles?
You can find Hawksbill Sea turtles in tropical water around the world, mainly in coral reefs. It may surprise you that more than 108 countries’ coastal waterways are home to hawksbill turtles.
In this article, I am going to discuss where Hawksbill Sea turtles live, the habitat threats they face, and their conservation status. I will also discuss how we can contribute to preserving their habitat.
Where do Hawksbill Sea Turtles Live?
Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans are home to the Hawksbill Sea turtles. Their nesting areas are also located along the tropical coasts of Queensland, Northern Territory, and Western Australia.
The most typical places to find them are shallow coastal areas, rocky areas, lagoons, and coral reefs. They are least likely to be found in water deeper than 65 feet (21 meters). You can also find them in bays and estuaries surrounded by mangroves.
Let’s take a closer look at the nesting population of Hawksbill Sea Turtles in the table below.
| Places | Estimated Nesting Population |
|---|---|
| Australia’s Northwestern Coast | 2,000 |
| Great Barrier Reef | 6,000 – 8,000 |
| Arnavon Islands | 2,000 |
| Republic of Seychelles | 1,000 |
| Indonesia | 2,000 |
| Mona Island, Puerto Rico | 500 – 1000 |
| Buck Island Reef National Monument off St. Croix | 100 – 150 |
| Mexico to Peru | 700 |
Accordingly, there’s a small population of hawksbills in the Pacific Ocean off Hawaii’s coast.
On the other hand, Australia and the Solomon Islands are home to the largest known hawksbill turtle breeding site. There are approximately 2,000 hawksbill turtle nests on Australia’s northwest coast, and another 6,000–8,000 nests close to the Great Barrier Reef.
You will be surprised to know that fewer than 500 to 1,000 hawksbill nests are laid annually in the United States (Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands). Cuba, Mexico, and Florida are also nesting locations for hawksbill turtles.
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Hawksbill Habitat at Various Life Stages
The Hawksbill Sea turtles live in various environments at various stages of life. Post-hatchlings seek refuge in waddings at convergence zones. These turtles return to the coastal waters when their carapaces are between twenty and twenty-five centimeters in length.
Coral reefs are the ideal habitat for both young and adult turtles. Reef systems’ ledges and caverns offer these turtles a place to hide and relax at any time. During the reproduction season, these turtles again return to the place where they were born.
Likewise, undisturbed beaches are their nesting areas. It could be high-energy beaches or small pocket beaches. Besides, a sandy beach with woody vegetation close to the water’s edge is a regular nesting habitat for these turtles.
What are the Habitat Threats Hawksbill Turtles Face?
Hawksbill sea turtles are in danger of extinction. This is because of some human activities such as Fishing bycatch, illegal wildlife trade, and habitat loss.
Fishing bycatch is one of the major threats to the Hawksbill Sea turtles. They are accidentally caught in fish nets and hooks.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, more than 200,000 sea turtles are killed by fishing gear every year.
Besides, the illegal wildlife trade is another threat to hawksbill sea turtles. There is a high demand for hawksbill shells, especially in Asia. These shells are used for making jewelry and ornaments. Almost two million hawksbills were slaughtered for the Japanese trade alone between 1950 and 1992.
Another threat that hawksbill sea turtles face is habitat loss. Coastal development and mining reduce the availability of nesting beaches. These things also affect the coral reefs that hawksbills rely on. For example, hawksbill sea turtles have lost more than 75% of their nesting habitat in Australia due to coastal developments.
Likewise, pollution also damages the natural habitat of hawksbill sea turtles. Oil spills and chemical pollution in the sea damage the coral reefs. Again, environmental pollution also causes climate change and global warming.
Climate change is another major threat to the habitat of hawksbills. The hawksbill growth rates declined by 18% in the Caribbean between 1997 and 2013. Researchers think that global warming is the cause behind the decline.
What’s the Conservation Status of Hawksbill Sea Turtles?
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the hawksbill sea turtle is critically endangered. This is the only surviving species of the genus Eretmochelys.
It is estimated that the global population of Hawksbill Sea turtles has declined by more than 80% due to various habitat threats. Some regions such as the Indian Ocean and East Pacific Ocean have experienced more drastic declines.
Preservation
Hawksbill sea turtles are in danger of disappearing. You would be happy to know that necessary steps have been taken to preserve these turtles. Many conservation activities and campaigns are going on to protect and restore their habitat. Let’s take a look at them.
- National laws and CITES prohibit the fishing, trading, and murder of sea turtles. For example, trading, and killing of these turtles is prohibited in the US under the Endangered Species Act.
- There is the establishment of Marine protected areas (MPAs) where the turtles can safely nest and forage. For example, some MPAs are Arnavon Community Conservation Area, Anse Cachee, Anse Intendance, etc.
- Some organizations research to protect the habitat of the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle. Those organizations are Natural Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, NOAA Fisheries, etc.
How Can We Contribute to Preserving Hawksbill Sea Turtles Habitat?
Our negligence is the primary cause of the habitat threats that hawksbill turtles are facing. In many ways, we can contribute to preserving the hawksbill sea turtles and their habitat.
- Avoid buying or using products that are made from hawksbill sea turtles. Rather we should use eco-friendly products.
- We should switch to reusable and biodegradable products. Thus, we can reduce the use of plastic and other disposable items that are harmful to the environment.
- Maintaining a safe distance from the nesting areas of the turtles on beaches where they lay their eggs.
- We should avoid feeding these turtles.
- Cutting down on bycatch in artisanal, commercial, as well as recreational fisheries.
- Decreasing ship collisions in coastal areas.
- Minimizing the consequences of eating and being entangled in marine debris.
- Collaborating with worldwide partners to safeguard turtles at every step of their lives.
- Funding conservation along with research initiatives that align with Recovery Plan principles.
- Putting an end to turtle killing and egg collection.
- Speaking with government agencies to make sure their actions won’t endanger designated species’ ability to survive.
- We can support and join the organizations that are working for Hawksbill such as WWF, and Sea Turtle Conservancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about the habitat of Hawksbill Sea turtles:
1. What are some adaptations of Hawksbill Sea turtles?
Hawksbill sea turtles have adapted in various ways to survive in their habitat. They have a slow metabolic rate which helps them to stay under water for a long time. Their flipper-like limbs are adapted for swimming in the Ocean.
2. In which regions do Hawksbill Sea turtles not live, and why is that?
The hawksbill sea turtle does not live in the Mediterranean Sea. These turtles also do not reside in the waters around Sydney. This is mainly because of the lack of coral reefs in those places.
Conclusion
The Hawksbill Sea turtle, the only extant species in the genus Eretmochelys, resides in tropical water worldwide. Lagoons, coral reefs, rocky areas, and shallow coastal areas are the most common locations to find them. Their habitat is located in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans.
They live in the sea but during the nesting season, they return to the beaches where they were born. However, their habitats face many threats due to human activities, and climate change. Necessary steps have been taken to preserve the habitat of Hawksbill Sea turtles. We can also contribute to preserving the habitat of these turtles.