Royal Caribbean International has joined forces with WWF Australia and the Australian Museum to encourage Aussies to surrender their tortoiseshell products in a bid to save the hawksbill turtle.

The project, aptly named ‘Surrender Your Shell’, is asking people to donate items made from tortoiseshell such as jewellery, combs and sunglasses and other trinkets which researchers will use to extract DNA from products to track the illegal trade of tortoiseshell.

Researchers will use this DNA to trace tortoiseshell products back to the turtles’ nesting beach and develop a database or ‘ShellBank’ for the first time in the Asia Pacific. This information will help identify vulnerable turtle populations, so WWF-Australia can work with local communities, governments and the tourism industry to improve turtle protection.

To support this initiative, the federal government has adopted a policy that for six months will allow Australians to send historically purchased tortoiseshell products to WWF-Australia, along with details of where and when they were purchased, without the risk of facing prosecution.

WWF Australia’s marine species program manager, Christine Madden Hof, said the simple act of popping something in the post can make a huge difference to an entire species.

“By surrendering tortoiseshell products like earrings, artwork and bracelets, you can add to our ShellBank and help ensure the survival of this special creature,” she said.

“Despite international trade being banned, poaching and the sale of hawksbill turtle products still takes place in our region.

“It is unclear where poaching is most prevalent, but with the help of the turtle DNA, we’ll be able to map poaching hotspots and work with local governments in the Asia-Pacific region to combat these illegal activities.”

It is estimated that nearly nine million hawksbill turtles have been traded for their distinctive shells over the past 150 years, bringing the species close to extinction.

The Pacific Ocean’s population has declined by more than 75 per cent and now just 4,800 breeding female hawksbills are thought to survive.

The Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI) – the scientific research arm of the Australian Museum – brings both collections-based research and wildlife forensic science expertise to the Surrender Your Shell project.

“Hawksbills from different regions are genetically distinct,” said Dr Greta Frankham, wildlife forensic scientist at the Australian Museum.

“By extracting each shell product’s unique DNA, Australian Museum scientists will help trace the tortoiseshell back to its original nesting population to identify those populations that have been targeted in the past and may still be targeted today.

“Some of the pieces will join our curated herpetology collection at the museum, so people can feel good about giving up their tortoiseshell treasures not just for this vital cause, but also for future research and display.”

To participate, Australians just need to track down any tortoiseshell products they’ve collected, or been gifted, over the years. Real tortoiseshell items are brown, orange, amber and yellow in colour and feature irregular patterns.

If people suspect a product is real, they can take the following steps to support the project:

1. Go HERE to enter your details, including when and where the item was purchased, to retrieve a unique identification number.
2. Attach the unique identification number to your tortoiseshell product, package appropriately and either post through the Australia Post eParcel Returns portal or visit a post office with your surrendered tortoiseshell and post to WWF Australia.
3. Ensure you post your item between by 1 June 2021.

The first 100 items sent through the Australia Post eParcel Returns portal will be paid for by WWF Australia.

Tortoiseshell trade can be prevalent in tourism destinations around the world, and Royal Caribbean International is supporting the initiative to help make tourists aware of their role in combatting the illegal trade.

“We’re proud to support the crusade to save this precious species, and to raise awareness with Australians, and our guests, on the part they can play in bringing these turtles back from the brink,” said Gavin Smith, Royal Caribbean International’s vice president and managing director for Australia and New Zealand.

“The ocean is our lifeblood and we are committed to preserving it – through our own innovation, our ‘Save the Waves’ program, and through important collaborations like Surrender Your Shell.”