Handicrafts made of tortoise-shell appear in many ancient cultures, in places like China, Ceylon, India, Oceania, and Rome. The meat and eggs of the Hawksbill have long been a source of food for people, although the meat is considered toxic in some areas due to the food items consumed. Human exploitation of the nesting grounds and pollution pose long term threats to its survival. In the past, Hawksbill Sea Turtles were often killed in large shrimp trawl nets. This carnivorous turtle has a highly variable diet consisting mostly of invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, crustaceans, sea urchins, and molluscs.
Hawksbill turtles live in clear offshore waters of mainland and island shelves.
They are more common where coral reef formations are present. Hawksbill turtles nest on sandy beaches, often in the proximity of coral reefs. In captivity, adults reach sexual maturity between 3 and 5 years of age, although wild turtles may take much longer to reach maturity. Adults mate off the nesting beaches every 2 to 3 years during the nesting period, generally April through November. Female Hawksbill turtles nest alone or sometimes in small groups.