Females do not attain maturity in the wild for 15 to 50 years. After a period of two to five decades, females typically migrate to a nesting beach often used by aggregations of turtles. Females remigrate at intervals of three years, and may lay three clutches of 100 to 120 eggs. As present but with more nesting sites. Although traditionally used as a food source by many littoral peoples, the primary cause of decline in Green Turtle populations is systematic commercial exploitation of eggs and adults, coupled with beach disturbance.
Incidental catch causes much mortality.
Appendix I listing requires that trade in the taxon and its products is subject to strict regulation by ratifying states and international trade for primarily commercial purposes is forbidden. Nominally protected by legislation in much of the range, however, in many areas the legislation is inadequately enforced. Some nesting beaches fall within National Parks or Nature Reserves and are accorded varying degrees of protection. The slow maturation period for Marine Turtles can mask the effects of exploitation and conservation action. It is possible to monitor the populations at some localities from the air or by boat.