Hawksbill sea turtle are taken by humans, though it is illegal to hunt them in many countries. In some parts of the world, hawksbill sea turtles are eaten as a delicacy. As far back as the fifth century BC, sea turtles, including the hawksbill, were eaten as delicacies in China. Many cultures also use turtles' shells for decoration. These turtles have been harvested for their beautiful shell since Egyptian times, and the material known as tortoiseshell is normally from the hawksbill. In China, where it was known as "tai mei", the hawksbill is called the "tortoise-shell turtle", named primarily for its shell, which
Sea Turtle Association of Japan, Kuroshima Research Station 30 years’ research into the nesting of sea turtles, especially confirmation of the nesting of the hawksbill sea turtle for the first time in Japan, in addition to confirming the nesting of green sea turtles. Their research regarding acanthasters and corals deserves special mention. In 2005, they sponsored the Japanese Sea Turtle Conference, which is held every year at the location of sea turtles nesting rookeries in Japan. Sea Turtle Association of Japan, Kuroshima Research Station Kuroshima Research Station started in 1973, under the name of the UnderwaterPark Foundation, Yaeyama Underwater Park Research Institute, for the purpose of managing and