The Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a critically endangered marine turtle species renowned for its beautiful, mottled shell, which has historically been highly prized for the production of "tortoiseshell" jewelry and ornaments. Although not a fish, the Hawksbill turtle has been subject to extensive exploitation, particularly in tropical regions. Historically, the leading countries involved in Hawksbill turtle harvesting included Japan, Cuba, Indonesia, and several Caribbean nations, where both the meat and the shell were valuable commodities. Japan, in particular, was the world’s largest market for tortoiseshell, known locally as "bekko." International trade in Hawksbill products has been banned under CITES since 1977, but illegal fishing and black-market trade still persist, especially in Southeast Asia and parts of the Caribbean. Conservation efforts and stricter enforcement have reduced large-scale commercial exploitation, but illegal harvest continues to threaten the survival of this iconic species.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.