If trade of hawksbill carapace from Indonesia to abroad done secretly and relatively in small quantity, it does not happen as for its eggs. In Malaysia and Indonesia border names Entikong in Kalimantan, trade of hawksbill eggs happen freely. At Entikong market there are four turtle eggs traders who sell the eggs for average of 4000 eggs during a week or totally about 12.000 eggs. During a month there are about 48.000 eggs sold at Entikong.
Most of the eggs buyers are Malaysian. In Saturday and Sunday, many of Malaysian shopping at Entikong Market and usually they always buy turtle eggs. The eggs cost for RM 1/pieces.
According to the eggs trader at Entikong, the control of turtle trade in Malaysia is very strict. If they are caught to sell turtle eggs they will be charged for higher fining. They do not dare to sell turtle eggs directly to Malaysia but sell it around the border area. But the smuggling of turtle eggs to Malaysia happen mostly in the sea, such as done on Tanjung Datu waters.
In many areas in Indonesia, the beaches where sea turtle used to laying eggs are rent out to private organizer. This condition happens in Sukabumi West Java, Sambas in West Kalimantan, Riau, and many other areas. This is ironic because all species of sea turtle are already protected by Indonesian law, including their parts such as eggs. According to Act No. 5 1990 trade on protected animals is protected. But trade of turtle eggs in Indonesia happen widely in almost places where there is turtle live. It seems there is no action from government to overcome the illegal trade in this turtle eggs.
The consumers of turtle eggs are not only Indonesian, but Malaysian and Singaporean obtained by smuggling process. In Natuna Region, of Riau Province there are some islands where turtle used to lay eggs such as in Sedanau Island, Laut Island, and Ranai Island. The local government gives the authority to manage the concession of the turtle eggs through auction process. The local price is Rp 800-1000/egg. The investigation on the field proved the eggs also sold to Malaysia and Singapore.
As the example of case of turtle trade is like in Paloh district of Sambas Region in West Kalimantan. In Jeruju village of Paloh district about 33, 6 km from Teluk Kalong Port, there is turtle eggs agent names Sepek (H. Atni). Sepek as hired the turtle location to lay eggs from the local government in Sambas in Tanjung Selimpai and Tanjung Kemuning.
The concession price of the location is Rp 50.000.000/year. The price of hawksbill eggs from agent is Rp 900/egg and green turtle price is Rp 1.500/egg in local market. Turtle eggs price in Malaysia is 70-80 cent/egg. The traders prefer to sell hawksbill eggs to abroad because the consumers think the protein content is higher rather than other eggs from other species.
The shipment method is simple, by placing the eggs inside the open box, in order to supply fresh air so the eggs will be always fresh during two weeks. To ship eggs to Malaysia by carrying it in the ship using border route such as Temajuk (Indonesian teritory) then ship along Melano (Malaysia territory).
Although in the concession statement the local government said to the private contactor should always leave half of the turtle eggs (example 10 eggs) in each nest in order to hatch, but in fact this obligation is difficult to control. Often the contractor only left 1-2 eggs in each nest. On the other hand the survival ability of the hatchlings in nature is low, as stated by some expert; from 1000 of turtle eggs only 1-3 hatchlings survive to reach adult. ProFauna Indonesia views the concession system of turtle eggs use implemented by some local governments in Indonesia, the contribution is not effective for turtle conservation in nature. The money paid t the local government from the concession of turtle eggs is also relatively small; it just paid for Rp 50.000.000/year in Sambas West Kalimantan. Instead, turtles are able to lay thousands of eggs during the night.