Hawksbill turtles on brink of extinction

Hawksbill turtles Eretmochyles imbricata are identified by their broad, pointed beaks and jagged rear scutes

In addition to marine pollution, overfishing and loss of nesting grounds, netting of hawksbill turtles for their scutes has contributed to their status as a critically endangered species. It has been calculated that more than 600,000 hawksbill turtles were required to produce all the tortoise shell imported by Japan between 1970 and 1986. One hawksbill turtle can yield about 80g of tortoise shell. Japan, which imported an average of 38,700kg of bekko annually between 1980 and 1989, has gradually cut back on imports until a total ban in 1993.

In Vietnam, trade in turtle products continues openly, according to a report authored by Traffic programme officers Peter Paul van Dijk and Chris R. Shepherd. During the Traffic survey in mid-2002, almost 30,000 items were found on offer. “The quantities of tortoise shell products were unreal,” says Shepherd...