Decline in Sea Turtle Poaching from 2012 – 2022

by · July 17, 2026

Shell and skull of a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle found by Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWC) investigators while serving a search
warrant on August 12, 2019. Photo Courtesy of Florida FWC.

Arizona State University Study Finds Sea Turtle Exploitation Declined from 2012 to 2022

Despite laws in over 180 countries that protect sea turtles from hunting and commercial trade, poaching is still one of the many threats they face. A 2022 Arizona State University (ASU) study (1, 2) found that over 1.1 million sea turtles were illegally killed or trafficked between 1990 and 2020 with 56% identified as green sea turtles and 39% hawksbills. The researchers also found that reports of exploited sea turtles decreased by 28% from the 2000s to the 2010s, and from 2012 to 2022, illegal poaching appears to have declined.

One of the study’s authors, Kayla Burgher, said in 2022, “The decline over the past decade could be due to increased protective legislation and enhanced conservation efforts, coupled with an increase in awareness of the problem or changing local norms and traditions.” (1) Additionally, Kayla and her colleague Jesse Senko wrote an article for The State of the World’s Sea Turtles in 2022 saying that they hope their research will result in “inter-national and domestic conservation action to reduce trafficking of sea turtles going into China and Japan, where nearly 90% of trafficked turtles ended up.” (3)

Recent Reports of Sea Turtle Poaching – Near and Far

Although progress has been made in reducing sea turtle exploitation, it’s far too easy to find news reports of the illegal trade of live sea turtles and their parts. Here are some examples.

  • In June 2026, Bali police confiscated 21 live green sea turtles and arrested a 67-year-old man who was going to sell them. If found guilty, he could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison and face fines. Historically, sea turtle meat has been used as offerings in Balinese Hinduism. See “Police in Bali Foil an Attempt to Trade Protected 21 Live Green Sea Turtles and Arrest a Suspect.” (4)
  • With so many sea turtles nesting on Florida’s beaches, it’s not surprising that poaching occurs in our state too. In late June 2026, a Lake Worth man posted a rare sea turtle shell for sale for $2,700 on Facebook Marketplace. Florida FWC received a tip about the post and began an investigation. After obtaining a search warrant, FWC officers found the shell in the suspect’s home. It was tested and a biologist verified it was from an Atlantic hawksbill sea turtle. See “Florida Man Accused of Listing Endangered Sea Turtle Shell for $2K on Facebook Marketplace.” (5)
  • Florida’s freshwater turtles are also vulnerable to illegal poaching for the international black market. In 2019, Florida FWC charged two men who caught thousands of native turtles and sold them to reptile dealers and distributors who would ship them overseas. When FWC officers served a search warrant on August 12, 2019, they discovered hundreds of live turtles plus the skull and shell of a rare, endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (see FWC photo above). Luckily, FWC was able to return over 600 of the live turtles to the wild. See “Florida Authorities Bust Trafficking Ring Smuggling Thousands of Native Turtles.” (6)

How You Can Help

In Florida, you can report illegal wildlife activities to the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 1-888-404-3922 or text #FWC using your cell phone. You can also submit a tip using this website: Florida FWC Wildlife Alert. You can report violations anonymously, and if your information results in an arrest or citation, you may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. (7)

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