Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Queensland and NSW floods 2022

Visit recovery.gov.au to see what help is available.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Climate change
    Climate change Driving climate action, science and innovation so we are ready for the future.
    • Climate science and adaptation
    • Australia's climate change strategies
    • Emissions reduction
    • Emissions reporting
    • International commitments
    • Climate Active
    • Climate change publications and data
    • Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (Emissions Data)
    Stronger action on climate change

    Stronger action on climate change

    See how the Australian Government is committed to taking more ambitious action on climate change.

    Find out more

  • Energy
    Energy Building a secure and sustainable energy system for all Australians.
    • Energy policy in Australia
    • Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council
    • Renewable energy
    • Energy publications
    • energy.gov.au
    • Energy Rating
    • Commercial Building Disclosure Program
    • Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
    • Your Home
    Decorative image

    Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme

    Guiding energy-efficient design and construction for a net-zero future

    Find out more about NatHERS

  • Environment
    Environment Improving stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s environment.
    • Bushfire recovery
    • Climate change and the environment
    • Biodiversity
    • EPBC Act
    • Environmental information and data
    • International activities
    • Invasive species
    • Land
    • Marine
    • Partnerships
    • Protection
    • Report a breach of environment law
    • Threatened species & ecological communities
    • Waste and recycling
    • Wildlife trade
    Decorative image

    Read our Nature Positive Plan

    Our plan sets out the Australian Government’s commitment to environmental law reform

    Find out more

  • Water
    Water Improving the sustainable management of Australia’s water supply for industry, the environment and communities.
    • Coal, Coal seam gas (CSG) and water
    • Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
    • Water policy and resources
    • Wetlands
    Water matters

    Water Matters

    Keep up with the latest news on the department's work in managing Australia's water resources.

    Read the latest edition here

  • Parks and heritage
    Parks and heritage Managing Australia’s iconic national parks, historic places and living landscapes.
    • Australian Marine Parks
    • Australian National Botanic Gardens
    • Booderee National Park
    • Kakadu National Park
    • Christmas Island National Park
    • National parks
    • Norfolk Island National Park
    • Heritage
    • Pulu Keeling National Park
    • The Great Barrier Reef
    • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
    The reef

    Great Barrier Reef

    Australia is protecting and conserving this World Heritage Area.

    Find out more

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Climate change
    • Australia's biological resources
    • National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
    • Office of the Science Convenor
    • Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
    • State of the Environment (SoE) reporting
    • Bird and bat banding
    • Supervising Scientist
    Our climate is changing

    Our climate is changing

    Find out more about how climate science helps Australians with the impacts of climate change.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • People and jobs
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Decorative image

    Juukan Gorge response

    Read the Australian Government's response to the destruction at Juukan Gorge and the recommendations

    Read the response

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Environment
  3. Marine
  4. Marine species conservation
  5. Marine turtles in Australia

Sidebar first - EN - Marine

  • Marine species
    • Cetaceans
      • Australian Whale Sanctuary
      • International
      • Legislation
      • Research permits
        • Invitation to comment
      • Science and Research
      • Species found in Australian waters
      • Whale and dolphin rescue
      • Whale and dolphin watching
      • Whale conservation
      • For teachers and students
      • For industry
    • Dugongs
    • Marine turtles
      • Flatback turtle (Natator depressus)
      • Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)
      • Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
      • Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
      • Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
      • Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)
    • Seals and sea lions
    • Sharks
      • Grey Nurse Shark (Carcharias taurus)
      • Hammerhead sharks
      • River sharks
      • Sawfish
      • Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus)
      • White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias)
    • Biologically important areas
    • Reducing bycatch

Marine turtles in Australia

Green turtle

Green turtle

 

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.

Species found in Australia

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:

  • Flatback turtle (Natator depressus)
  • Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)
  • Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
  • Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
  • Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
  • Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)

Legislative protection

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

In Australia, all six species of marine turtles that occur in our waters are protected under the Australian Government's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and various State and Northern Territory legislation.

The leatherback, loggerhead and olive ridley turtle are each listed as endangered under the EPBC Act which means that these species may become extinct if the threats to their survival continue.

The green, hawksbill and flatback turtle are each listed as vulnerable which means that they may become endangered if threats continue.

Turtles may be legally hunted by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people under section 211 of the Native Title Act 1993 for personal, domestic or non commercial communal needs.

Recovery Plan for Marine Turtles in Australia

The national Recovery Plan for Marine Turtles in Australia was jointly made with the New South Wales and Queensland Environment Ministers in May 2017. The Recovery Plan provides for research and management actions necessary to stop the decline and support the recovery of marine turtles so that their chances of long-term survival in nature are maximised.

  • Recovery Plan for Marine Turtles in Australia

International agreements

Marine turtles are recognised internationally as species of conservation concern. The six 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 on Appendix I of 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 (CMS, also known as the Bonn Convention). The flatback turtle is listed on Appendix II of the CMS and the other species are listed on both Appendices I and II. Australia is also a signatory to the CMS Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia (IOSEA MoU). The MoU is designed to facilitate national level and transboundary actions that will lead to the conservation of turtle populations and their habitats.

Indigenous culture and marine turtles

Marine turtles have important cultural and social values for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in coastal areas of northern Australia. Hunting these species is important for maintaining family relations (kinship) and social structure, has important ceremonial and community purposes and also provides valuable protein in regions where fresh food is expensive and difficult to obtain.

Indigenous communities are working collaboratively with government agencies and scientists to develop and implement community-based management for sustainable hunting of marine turtles. This work is primary supported through the Australian Government's Caring for Our Country and Working on Country programs.

Under the Native Title Act 1993, Traditional Owners have the right to take marine resources, including hunting of marine turtles for personal, domestic or non-commercial communal needs and in exercise and enjoyment of their native title rights and interests.

  • Caring for our country
  • Indigenous Protected Areas

Resources

Books and reports

  • Identifying the links between nesting and foraging grounds for the Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) sea turtles in northern Australia - Project final report - July 2007
  • Improving survivorship of the nests of the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles - the reductions of feral dog numbers from northern beaches on Melville Island, Tiwi Islands, NT - May 2004
  • Marine Turtles of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area - 2001
  • National Dugong and Turtle Protection Plan 2014-2017 - 2015
  • Pilot study of Loggerhead Turtles in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area: Movements and community based conservation - November 2004
  • Population genetics of Southeast Asian and Western Pacific green turtles, Chelonia mydas - 2002
  • Protected Marine Species Identification Guide - factsheets on marine protected species
  • Recovery plan for marine turtles in Australia - 2017
  • Research on the impact of marine debris on marine turtle survival and behaviour: North east Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia - April 2009
  • Sea Turtle conservation and education on the Tiwi Islands - August 2007
  • Sustainable harvest of marine turtles and dugongs in Australia - 2005

Links

  • IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group
  • Global Sea Turtle Network
Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 15 October 2021

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.