Love marine turtles? Help keep the Great Sandy Strait and Tin Can Inlet safe for them!
Marine turtles
Marine turtles are among the most threatened marine species on a global scale. The Great Sandy Straits has 5 of the 7 marine turtle species visiting or residing in the area.
The three most common species in the Southern Sandy Straits are discussed in more detail below. The other two species which occur less often in the area are the Flatback and Leatherback.
Loggerhead Turtle (Endangered)- Caretta caretta
- Commonly seen in the Southern Sandy Strait and Tin Can Inlet. The region is also used as a pathway to their breeding grounds at Mon Repos making it a vital part of their habitat.
- Recognisable for their large head, adults are brown with highlights of reddish brown and black
- Diet consists of molluscs, crabs, sea urchins, sea anemones and jellyfish
For further information on the Loggerhead turtle in Queensland follow this link Loggerhead turtle (Department of Environment and Resource Management)
Green Turtle (Vulnerable)- Chelonia mydas
- With a shell up to 1 metre long, adults are olive green with a mixture of brown, reddish brown and black.
- Diet consists of sea grass, seaweed, mangrove fruit, jellyfish and sponges. Making them reliant on the ongoing health of sea grass beds in the region.
Green Turtle photo from Wikimedia Commons
For further information on the Green turtle in Queensland follow this link Green turtle (Department of Environment and Resource Management)
For further information on Marine Turtles and their current conservation status follow these links:
The IUCN have a marine turtle specialist group. Follow this link to learn more about the species, their conservation status and recovery actions at the global level www.iucn-mtsg.org/turtles.shtml
Visit seaturtle.org an organisation that was founded out of a desire to support research and conservation efforts in the sea turtle community. Lots of links and interactive research.
Commonwealth government marine turtle information www.environment.gov.au/coasts/species/turtles/biology.html
What are the main threats to the marine turtles from these marina developments?
- Boat strike is a major cause of injury and death
- Habitat degradation. Destruction of sea grass beds is particularly an issue for the green turtle
- Marine debris, causing entanglement. Ingestion of other debris, such as plastic bags and plastic bottle tops is also a major cause of death.
- Reduction in water quality. Turtles in Moreton Bay have a higher incidence of the papilloma virus and appear to have a slower growth rate.
What is happening in Moreton Bay?
With up to 200 turtles being found dead in Moreton Bay, and the real figures likely to be higher than that from potential water quality related illnesses, marine debris and boat strike ('Bay turtle deaths rise: Encroaching humans hit ecosystem', Courier Mail, 26th March, 2010).
Refer also UQ media release www.uq.edu.au
Refer the DERM web site for issues facing dugong and turtles species in Moreton Bay Boat strike impact on turtle and dugong in Moreton Bay (Department of Environment and Resource Management)
It is critical we don't recreate the Moreton Bay model in the Great Sandy Strait. We must act now to develop a strategic plan for the area that takes into account the problems that exist in Moreton Bay to ensure the Great Sandy Strait remains a relatively safe haven for turtles and dugong long into the future.
Full Reference: Courier Mail, March 26th 2010; Williams, B, 2010, ‘Bay turtle deaths rise’, p.19
Hawksbill Turtle (Vulnerable) - Eretmochelys imbricata
- Brown colouration, variegated with brown and black on the carapace (shell)
- They have a beak like mouth and narrow head. Often seen swimming just above the sea floor with their flippers resembling wings.
- Diet consists of sponges as well as sea grass, seaweed, soft corals and shellfish.
Hawksbill Turtle photo from Wikimedia Commons - Author B Navez
More Hawksbill turtle images can be found here on Google Images - Hawksbill
Hawksbill turtle (Department of Environment and Resource Management) www.derm.qld.gov.au/wildlife-ecosystems/wildlife/az_of_animals/hawksbill_turtle.html