Indigenous coastal communities have always hunted sea turtles and collected their eggs. Turtle hunting, particularly for green turtles, is culturally and often economically important to these people.

Today’s hunting levels however are poorly understood and may be unsustainable in many countries. Due to a lack of knowledge of the level of take it is difficult to assess the impact on turtle populations. It is important to understand the impact hunting is having on sea turtle populations so that a sustainable level is maintained to ensure hunting opportunities for future generations.

Sea Turtle Foundation is opposed to indiscriminate and unsustainable hunting. However we do not oppose sustainable hunting that is carried out for subsistence or cultural purposes.