• digitized by GROMS, Map sources: Iverson (1992); Indopacific nesting beaches: UNEP-WCMC (1999)
• Copyright: GROMS/BƒN - www.groms.de

“The hawksbill turtle is the smallest and most tropical species among the sea turtles. Its carapace is covered with thick horny scutes, which are coveted for making valuable tortoiseshell jewellery and objects of art, in particular for the Japanese Bekko trade. It is found in all tropical seas, preferring shallow waters with reefs, shoals and estuaries. The species is omnivorous, and besides on plants specialises on sponges. Hawksbills are closely associated with coral reefs, one of the most endangered of all marine ecosystems. The hawksbill is considered less of a long-distance migrant, but a recent review of data from tag recoveries, genetic analysis and satellite telemetry indicates that migratory behaviour parallels that of other marine turtle species (Miller et al. 1998). Studies of international movements in the Caribbean reveal minimum distances between 110-1,936 km for adults, but only 46-900 km for immatures, suggesting long-term residency in developmental habitats (Meylan 1999). A detailed mapping of Australian stocks based on genetic analysis has allowed correlation of foraging and breeding populations. A lack of gene flow provided evidence of multiple stocks, which therefore have to be considered as separate entities for management (Broderick et al. 1994). Hawksbill nests are dispersed along many kilometres of undisturbed beach, including rookeries of other species. This dispersed nesting habit probably has saved many populations from extinction, but at the same time hampers accurate documentation of population sizes. The largest rookery at Chiriqui beach, Panama, was severely depleted by commercial exploitation in the 1970s (King 1982 in Bjorndal 1995). Only five regional populations remain with more than 1,000 females nesting annually (Seychelles, Mexico, Indonesia, and two in Australia), and global population declines of more than 80% during the last three generations led to listing as "Critically Endangered"(CR) on the 1996 international Red List (Meylan & Donnely 1999). Promising population increases are reported from Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, where protection led to an annual increase of 270 nests/year between 1992 and 1996 (Garduno-Andrade et al. 1999).
In addition to all threats shared with other marine turtles, international trade remains a serious problem. In spite of its listing on CITES Appendix I, there are several initiatives to re-establish Japanese Bekko imports (abolished in 1991), and in 1992 the Bekko Association of Japan introduced a fisheries model in Cuba (Heppel & Crowder 1996, Carrillo et al. 1999). Serious declines of about 72% have been reported from the Java Sea region, which has been driven by harvest of live turtles for sale (Bali), illegal egg collection and slaughtering for Bekko, and intense coastal development of islands (Suganuma et al. 1999).”
Riede, K. (2001): Global Register of Migratory Species. Weltregister wandernder Tierarten. Münster (Landwirtschaftsverlag), p. 265

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by Ansgar Tappenhölter