A Hawksbill sea turtle. Source: nps.gov.
Overview: In the last century, the world’s population of Hawksbill Sea Turtles has declined by over 80%. This decrease could have serious ecological consequences, as Hawksbill Sea Turtles are an integral component of the functionality of coral reefs all over the world. Recently, Hawksbill Sea Turtle populations have begun to rebound, but with the dangers of oceanic pollution and coral bleaching, Hawksbill Sea Turtles are still at risk.
Importance: Hawksbill Sea Turtles are integral to the survival of coral reefs, as they are one of only two species that eat toxic and low-nutrient sponges (the other being Angelfish, which account for a much smaller percentage of sponge population management). Sponges release harmful compounds that can stunt, induce bleaching in, and kill stony corals, so a buildup in sponges could have devastating consequences on coral reefs worldwide. This would greatly affect the approximately 25% of all marine animals that directly rely on coral reefs at some point in their lifetime, with even more far-reaching consequences across the marine food web.
Tortoise Shell Glasses: The initial decline of Hawksbill Sea Turtles was caused by the demand for tortoise shell glasses, which used to be made of real tortoise and turtle shells, primarily those of the Hawksbill Sea Turtle. Thus, for the majority of the 20th century, Hawksbill Sea Turtles were hunted until populations decreased dramatically, leading to them being declared as critically endangered and therefore protected from hunting. Now that hunting turtles is illegal, these glasses frames are produced synthetically.
Tortoise shell glasses. Source: ateliersbaudin.com.
International Significance: The decrease in Hawksbill Sea Turtles is an international problem, as they can be found in almost every ocean. The following map shows the water temperatures which Hawksbill Sea Turtles can live in, with the red zone having a suitable temperature for the turtles (note: turtles do not live in all of the highlighted areas, as they settle near coastal reefs and only migrate through open oceans).
Hawksbill turtle range map. Source: wikimedia.org.
Recent Threats: More recently, climate change and pollution have led to concerns about the future of Hawksbill Sea Turtles. The two ongoing threats are the rise of oceanic temperatures and plastic pollution. Oceanic temperatures have risen in the past four decades. Higher temperatures cause coral bleaching, a condition that kills coral and thus coral reefs. This is very dangerous for all sea turtles, as they rely on coral reefs for residence and breeding. Plastic pollution also poses a serious threat to sea turtles, as they often mistake plastic for jellyfish and frequently choke on it. Although Hawksbill Sea Turtle populations have been rising, this growth will not continue if pollution and climate change continue to accelerate. It is also important to note that Hawksbill Sea Turtle populations have not yet been heavily affected by the decrease in coral reefs caused by coral bleaching, as their population is currently too low.
Average ocean surface temperatures over time. Source: epa.gov.
Summary: Now, Hawksbill Sea Turtles are beginning to make a recovery, but are still listed as critically endangered. Despite improvements in conservation efforts, climate change and plastic pollution still pose serious risks to the future wellbeing of the species. If no further action is taken to protect the Hawksbill Sea Turtle, the inaction could significantly harm populations and cause damage to coral reefs, which are integral to the vitality of the ocean and survival of the planet.
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