Hawksbill Sea Turtle Killed by Careless Boater

St. Criox Times Staff

STAR responder Paul Jobsis carefully uses rope to transport the deceased hawksbill turtle from the shore to the boat. The red Xs on the turtle’s shell indicate that it has already been documented by responders. (Photo courtesy STAR)

A critically endangered Hawksbill Sea Turtle was killed recently by a careless boater off of Honeymoon Beach, Water Island.

The Sea Turtle Assistance and Rescue (STAR) team was contacted about a stranded Hawksbill Sea Turtle that had washed up ashore near Honeymoon Beach on Water Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

STAR team members from the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) responded to the communication and found the turtle deceased. Upon examination, it was determined that the adult female Hawksbill Sea Turtle had suffered fatal injuries consistent with a boat strike. 

Hawksbill Sea Turtles are Critically Endangered due to human threats, so protecting their populations in the U.S. Virgin Islands is crucial. 

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service classified Hawksbill Sea Turtles endangered in 1970 under the Endangered Species Act.

On Rosemary Island, off the coast of Western Australia, volunteers have been monitoring Hawksbill Turtles since 1986. In November 2020, a 60-year old Hawksbill, first tagged in November 1990 and again in 2011, returned to the same location.

The USVI are home to three species of nesting sea turtles: Hawksbill, Leatherbacks and Greens. Hawksbills may be found foraging on coral reefs throughout the Territory’s coastal waters and nesting on beaches year-round. 

Boat strikes pose a major threat to Sea Turtles in the USVI, accounting for nearly 25% of all documented strandings. In 2024, STAR recorded 36 Sea Turtle strandings, eight of which were caused by boats. All Sea Turtles spend time at the surface breathing, mating and searching for suitable beach nesting habitat. At these times, Sea Turtles are very susceptible to boat traffic. If boats are speeding, turtles may not be able to react in time to drive below the surface, potentially resulting in injuries or death. 

To reduce the risk of boat strikes, STAR urges all watercraft operators to follow safe boating practices, such as maintaining a speed of 5 mph in no-wake zones, operating at slow speeds  (under 15 mph) in near-shore water, and remaining alert for Sea Turtles at the surface. 

Safe boating practices are essential to reducing Sea Turtle injuries and fatalities in USVI waters.   

STAR is a non-profit organization of government agencies, NGOs, local non-profits, veterinarians, and dedicated volunteers. Operating across all three U.S. Virgin Islands, STAR responds to any Sea Turtles or hatchlings that are injured, trapped, entangled, disoriented, or dead. 

To report a Sea Turtle to STAR, please call 340-690-0474 and be ready to provide detailed information about the location of the stranding, the condition of the turtle (alive or dead), and a description of its size and any visible injuries. 

For more information on STAR and Sea Turtle conservation efforts in the USVI, please visit STAR-Sea Turtle Assistance and Rescue on Facebook or find them on Instagram at STAR.USVI.