Working To End Demand For Illegal Tortoiseshell Products

Hawksbill sea turtles are one of the most beautiful and important species in the ocean. They help coral reefs thrive by eating sponges and are a thrill for divers and snorkelers to see in the wild. But they have been hunted to the edge of extinction for their colorful shell. Their shells (also known as "tortoiseshell") are made into jewelry and other products that are frequently sold to travelers in markets across Latin America, Asia, and elsewhere. 

To date, Too Rare To Wear has:

• Published two international reports on this trade

• Launched the groundbreaking SEE Shell App which uses AI to identify these products

• Created a coalition with 100 tourism companies and conservation organizations to address this trade

• Helped our partners at Fundacion Tortugas del Mar reduce this trade by 80% in Cartagena, Colombia

• Funded local efforts to address this trade in Indonesia, Colombia, Costa Rica, & Panama

 Help Save Hawksbills

• Take Our Pledge to Avoid Turtleshell

• Learn How To Recognize Turtleshell

• Report Turtleshell

• Research Reports

• Campaign Resources