Marine Species Conservation
Links to another web site
Opens a pop-up window
Marine turtles have lived in the oceans for over 100 million years. They are an integral part of the traditional culture of many coastal indigenous peoples throughout the world.
Marine turtles migrate long distances between their feeding grounds and nesting sites. They have a large shell called a carapace, four strong, paddle-like flippers and like all reptiles, lungs for breathing air. The characteristic beak-like mouth is used to shear or crush food.
All marine turtle species are experiencing serious threats to their survival. The main threats are pollution and changes to important turtle habitats, especially coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove forests and nesting beaches. Other threats include accidental drowning in fishing gear, over-harvesting of turtles and eggs, and predation of eggs and hatchlings by foxes, feral pigs, dogs and goannas.
There are only a few large nesting populations of the green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles left in the world. Australia has some of the largest marine turtle nesting areas in the Indo-Pacific region and has the only nesting populations of the flatback turtle.
Of the seven species of marine turtles in the world, six occur in Australian waters:
In Australia, all species of marine turtles are protected under various State and Territory legislation and the Australian Government's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Due to increasing threats to marine turtles, all the six species which occur in Australian waters are listed under the Australian Government's EPBC Act. The loggerhead and olive ridley turtle are listed as endangered under this Act which means that the species may become extinct if the threats to its survival continue. The green, leatherback, hawksbill and flatback turtles are listed as vulnerable which means that they may become endangered if threats continue. The Act identifies the need to prepare a recovery plan and specifies the content of the plan.
Marine turtles are recognised internationally as species of conservation concern. Six of the species found in Australia are listed in the 2000 IUCN (World Conservation Union) Red List of Threatened Animals.
All marine turtle species occurring in Australian waters are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In addition, all marine turtles occurring in the Indo-Pacific region are a priority for conservation under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (the Bonn Convention or CMS).