Researchers estimate that more than 1.1 million sea turtles have been illegally killed and, in some cases, trafficked between 1990 and 2020. Even with existing laws prohibiting their capture and use, as many as 44,000 sea turtles were exploited each year over the past decade in 65 countries or territories and in 44 of the world's 58 major sea turtle populations. Despite the seemingly large number of poached turtles, the study also shows that the reported illegal exploitation of sea turtles declined by approximately 28% over the last decade.