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Harvest for Consumption

Sea turtles are hunted for meat and eggs, especially in Central America and Asia, where they’re seen as food or aphrodisiacs.
The Problem

Sea Turtles are Hunted for Meat and Their Eggs

In some coastal communities, especially in Central America and Asia, sea turtles are considered a food source. During the nesting season, hunters comb the beaches at night looking for nesting females. Often, they will wait until the female has deposited her eggs to kill her. Then, they take both the eggs and meat.

In some countries, sea turtle eggs are prized as an aphrodisiac. Others customarily consume sea turtle meat in observance of religious holidays. Until the 1970s when sea turtles were internationally recognized as endangered, their meat was also used to prepare turtle soup- considered a specialty by Europeans. Additionally, people may use other parts of the turtle for products, including the oil, cartilage, skin and shell.

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Tracking the numbers

Taking a closer look

400%
Increase in nesting green turtles in Tortuguero when the local community changed their economy from one of consumption to conservation.
70%
Percentage of leatherback nests that were illegally hunted on Soropta Beach before STC set up a hatchery.
15-30 yrs
Number of years it takes for a sea turtle to reach egg-laying age
The Solution

Education and Limitations

In order to help combat the threat posed by human consumption, governments and conservationists have developed and tested several methods, which include education, patrolling nesting beaches, relocating eggs to hatcheries (only in areas where no other solution will work), ecotourism based on sea turtles, and government-imposed limits on consumption. Usually a combination of these methods will achieve the most successful results.

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How You Can Help

Tips & Resources

Participate in sea turtle eco-tourism

By participating in eco-tourism, tourists help create jobs and income for local communities, making conservation more economically viable for people living near turtle habitats. This can reduce the incentive for activities like illegal hunting or habitat destruction, as the community benefits from preserving their local turtle populations.

Respect Cultural Differences

In some regions, there may be cultural or traditional practices involving sea turtle consumption. In these cases, governments may impose strict limits on the number of turtles that can be taken, and these activities are often only allowed under very controlled circumstances (e.g., for certain indigenous communities or for ceremonial purposes). However, even in these cases, the intent is to ensure that the local population does not interfere with the overall recovery of sea turtle species.

Educate Friends and Family

The more people know about sea turtles, the more likely they are to support conservation efforts and adopt responsible practices.

Report illegal sea turtle activity

Illegal activities such as poaching, egg theft, or the destruction of nesting habitats directly harm sea turtles, which are already threatened or endangered. If you witness this activity, report it to the appropriate authorities.

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