It’s Time to Act Before It’s Too Late
Amid ongoing efforts to strengthen turtle protection, these rare species continue to fall victim to exploitation for short-term personal gain. Turtles are still being hunted, sold, and treated as commodities in illegal trade. Ironically, the trade in turtle-based products is not limited to traditional markets or black-market routes. The digital world—intended to make our lives easier—is also being exploited to promote and sell illegal turtle-derived products.
Sea turtle protection is clearly stipulated by Indonesian law. Peraturan Pemerintah No. 7 of 1999 on the Preservation of Plant and Animal Species explicitly states that all turtle species found in Indonesian waters are classified as protected wildlife. In addition, Law No. 5 of 1990 on the Conservation of Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems provides a strong legal foundation, imposing penalties of up to 5 years in prison and/or fines of up to IDR 100 million for anyone who captures, injures, keeps, possesses, transports, or trades protected wildlife.
Beyond being a legal offense, the illegal trade of turtle-based products poses a serious threat to nature. Turtle populations are steadily declining as a result of this activity, and the consequences are not confined to the ocean. Sea turtles play a vital role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems, and their extinction would trigger a chain reaction of negative effects—eventually impacting humans as well.
Online Investigation Findings: Alarming Truths
In November 2024, Yayasan Penyu Indonesia conducted an online investigation. We monitored two major online marketplaces in Indonesia—Shopee and Tokopedia—using 10 keywords frequently used to sell illegal turtle-based products, such as Penyu, Pnyu, P3nyu, Pendok, Goyo, Cincin Penyu, and others.
As a result, we discovered 105 active listings advertising turtle-based products, posted by 81 different sellers across 38 cities/regencies. The total number of illegal products sold reached 20,884 items, with estimated illegal profits exceeding IDR 138 million!
The range of products was diverse, including fishing lures, jewelry (bracelets, rings, belts, earrings, pendants), massage oils, decorative items, and even traditional daggers (keris).
Take Action Now!
Yayasan Penyu Indonesia has reported these findings to the respective platforms, and 105 listings were successfully taken down. However, it appears that several sellers have since reposted the advertisements on the marketplaces. We need your support!
We call upon everyone who cares about wildlife to take part in protecting sea turtles from illegal trade. You can help through simple yet powerful actions:
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Visit online marketplaces like Shopee or Tokopedia. Search using keywords that might be used to disguise illegal turtle-based products. Sellers often replace certain letters with numbers or use local terms to avoid detection.
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Click on any suspicious or illegal listings and use the “Report” feature to flag them.
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Encourage your friends to report them as well! The more reports submitted, the higher the chances those listings will be swiftly removed.
Turtles have been guardians of marine ecosystems since prehistoric times. Today, their populations are on the brink of extinction. You can be part of their protection—one report from you can help save a turtle!
