Although the Maldives has a long history of trade in marine turtle shells and offer vast areas of tropical nesting beaches and feeding grounds ideal at least for Hawksbill and Green turtles, only four species of turtles are known to nest in the Maldives and the fifth one is an occasional visitor to the Maldives' seas.

These species are:
1. Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) VELAA
2. Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) KANHABU
3. Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) VAAVOSHI VELLA
4. Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta care) BOABODHU VELAA
5. Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) MUSHINBI - not known to nest in the Maldives

Out of five marine turtle species, Green and Hawksbill turtle are the most common and nest frequently throughout the Maldives. Leatherback is very rare out of the five species and not known to nest in the Maldives. No nationwide scientific research on local turtle population, its size, structure and the dynamic destruction of its feeding and nesting grounds has been carried out in the Maldives.

Each species has its habitat and feeding needs. The Green turtle is primarily a vegetarian feeding on sea grass and algae. Hawksbill turtles live on coral reefs and use their long beaks to probe into spaces between corals to find sponges and invertebrates to eat. The Leatherback feeds in the upper layers of the open sea and jellyfish are thought to be an important part of its diet. Little is know of feeding grounds of Loggerhead turtles, but they mainly feed on invertebrates. Olive Ridley feeds mainly on crustaceans.

Marine turtle population is also declining throughout the Indian Ocean region. Persistent over-exploitation, especially catching or killing of adult females on the nesting beach and the widespread collection of eggs are largely responsible for the depleted status of six Indian Ocean species. In addition to the direct harvest, marine turtles are accidentally captured in active or abandoned fishing gears, resulting in death of tens of thousands of turtles annually. Coral reef and sea grass degradation, oil spills, chemical waste, plastic and other marine debris, high density beach-front development, and an increase in ocean-based tourism have damaged or eliminated nesting beaches and feeding grounds.