The Hawksbill Tortoise lives in sub-tropical and tropical seas.   It prefers shallow areas, such as bays and lagoons where it can find food easily.  It is found in the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.  The Hawksbill Turtle usually travels alone except during mating season when as many as 100 turtles travel together. The egg laying season lasts from April to August in the Atlantic ocean and from November to February in the Pacific ocean. The eggs are round and are from 1 to 2 1/4 inches in diameter.  This turtle is known as the most aggressive sea  turtle biting anything that gets near it. To catch this turtle the fisherman use a fish called the necurate. This fish  uses it's sticky plate to attach it's self and the fisherman catches the fish and the turtle together.

    This turtle is hunted because of it's very valuable  "tortoiseshell" plates. This material is used to make combs, eyeglass frames, furniture decorations, and costume jewelry. A single large Hawksbill Turtle provides up to 13 pounds of "tortoiseshell". 

    This turtle is protected  in most countries.  The U.S. restricts the importation of it and things made from it. Several countries prohibit the gathering of it's eggs.  Australia protects this turtle on Torres Strait Island and along the Great Barrier Reef where it goes to nest and lay it's eggs.   Even  though the Hawksbill Turtle is protected all over, it is still hunted today.