posthatchlings and jiueniles. These small turtles are believed to originate from nesting beaches 

 in Mexico. 



Nesting within the southeastern United States occurs principally in Puerto Rico and the U.S. 

 Virgin Islands, the most important sites being Mona Island and Buck Island. Nesting also occurs 

 on other beaches of St. Croix, and on Culebra Island. Vieques Island, mainland Puerto Rico. St. 

 John and St. Thomas. Within the continental United States, nesting is restricted to the southeast 

 coast of Florida and Florida Keys. 



In the U.S. Pacific, there have been no hawksbflls recorded along the west coast. Hawksbills 

 have been observed in the Gulf of California as far as 29°N. throughout the northwestern states 

 of Mexico, and south along the Central and South American coasts to Columbia and Ecuador. In 

 the Hawaiian Islands, nesting occurs in the main islands, primarily on several small sand beaches 

 on the Islands of Hawaii and Molokai. 



MAJOR IMPACTS 



Impacts in the nesting environment 



The greatest threats on nesting beaches are the harvesting of nesting females and egg poaching. 

 Domestic harvest is a persistent problem for hawksbills throughout their range and international 

 commerce in hawksbill shell (tortoiseshell or bekko) is considered the most significant factor 

 endangering hawksbill populations around the world. Poaching of hawksbill eggs is a serious 

 problem in Puerto Rico and Mexico, and also occurs at lower levels in St. Thomas and St. Croix. 

 Egg poaching is also widespread in the Pacific. In Palau. egg poaching claims greater than 75% 

 of all nests. 



Artificial lighting can cause disorientation or misorientation of both adults and hatchlings. 

 Hawksbill hatchlings are attracted to artificial light, which disrupts their natural sea-finding 

 behavior and can result in increased predation and mortality. In addition, adult females are 

 discouraged from nesting in highly developed areas with intense artificial lighting. 



Beach armoring (seawalls, revetments, riprap, sandbags and sand fences) to protect property 

 from erosion can cause the loss of dry nesting beach and/or interference with access to suitable 

 nesting sites. 



Beach nourishment results in heavy machinery, pipelines, increased human activity and artificial 

 lighting on a project beach, and can cause the burial of nests and disturbance of nesting turtles. 



Removal of sand (sand mining) for construction aggregate or nourishment of other beaches is a 

 serious threat throughout the Caribbean. Sand removed from above the tide line is replaced very 

 slowly from subtidal areas, a process which can take decades. Subtidal sand removal results in 

 beach sand moving offshore. 



Development and landscaping of nesting beaches can create impediments for nesting turtles. In 

 addition, exotic plants can damage or destroy nests by root invasion. 



Erosion of nesting beaches can result in loss of nesting habitat. However, natural processes of 

 beach erosion are not generally a significant threat. 



Repeated mechanical raking of nesting beaches by heavy machinery can result in compacting 

 sand and cause tire ruts which may hinder or trap hatchlings. Rakes can penetrate the surface 



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