SEA TURTLE FOUNDATION

Sea Turtle Foundation has been safeguarding sea turtle populations, migration routes and habitats for a quarter of a century…

A not-for-profit, non-government group headquartered in Townsville (QLD, Australia), Sea Turtle Foundation works to protect sea turtles through research, education, advocacy and action.

The organisation’s origins date back to 2001, when a group of turtle biologists and concerned volunteers formed the ‘Indo-Pacific Sea Turtle Conservation Group’. The initial goal was to address research gaps and develop strategies to reduce threats to sea turtles in the North Queensland region.

Changing its name to Sea Turtle Foundation in 2007, the organisation has since expanded its activities to national and international levels, supporting a large range of activities aimed at increasing sea turtle numbers worldwide.

 

ISLAND HOME

Australia is home to six of the world’s seven marine turtle species: green turtle, hawksbill turtle, leatherback turtle, loggerhead turtle, Olive Ridley turtle, and the flatback turtle (unique to Australian shores).

All sea turtle species found in Australian waters are protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, with some listed as vulnerable and others as endangered.

Beautiful and charismatic creatures, there’s little wonder why sea turtles are the photogenic face of so many tourism brochures and environmental campaigns!

 

TURTLE POWER

Along with being iconic symbols of our ocean environment, the various sea turtle species help maintain balance in marine and coastal ecosystems.

Green turtles graze on algae, seagrasses and seaweed, keeping the environment healthy for fish, crustaceans and other marine life. Hawksbill turtles help control sponge growth on coral reefs, allowing corals to thrive. Leatherback turtles feed on jellyfish – preventing population booms, which could otherwise disrupt fish stocks.

Together, sea turtle feeding habits support biodiversity and stabilise ocean food webs.

On land, nesting sea turtles play a vital role in nutrient cycling. Unhatched eggs and eggshells enrich beach vegetation, strengthening dunes to protect coastlines from erosion. Turtle eggs and hatchlings also provide food for birds, crabs and fish, while adults are prey for sharks and orcas.

Linking ocean and land ecosystems, sea turtles support both marine health and coastal resilience.

 

A sea turtle hatchling makes its dash to the water.

 

HUMAN HELP

Sea turtles have seen the planet undergo many changes over time and have managed to survive them all.

However, things are tough in the modern era… especially when you’re a slow-breeding, long-lived reptile!

Sea turtles face many threats – from increased ocean pollution and loss of nesting habitat, through to deliberate and accidental deaths caused by humans around the world.

Sea Turtle Foundation is working to address these threats through advocacy, training others to respond to strandings, providing educational programs for schools and communities, and supporting research into turtle health and ecology.

 

RESEARCH

The greater our knowledge of the sea turtle lifecycle, the better we’ll be able to reduce threats and implement effective management strategies.

Some of the research projects Sea Turtle Foundation has been involved with:

• seagrass monitoring in the Great Barrier Reef
• satellite tracking of turtles in the Torres Strait
• nesting monitoring and acoustic tracking

 

EDUCATION

Sea Turtle Foundation runs stranding training days for turtle volunteer groups, while education officers take the sea turtle story into classrooms.

The organisation has also worked with more than a dozen communities in Papua New Guinea’s Western Province to educate hunters, students and community members about the threats facing local populations of turtles and dugongs.

 

ADVOCACY AND ACTION

The organisation is the ‘voice of sea turtles’ in Australia, and focuses on advocating on their behalf.

Current advocacy topics include:

• highlighting the negative impact of major developments in turtle nesting and feeding areas (ie. North West Shelf)
• strategies to reduce plastic ingestion and marine debris-related injuries
• improving understanding of the impact of coastal development and lighting on turtle habitats and nesting
• removal of nets at beaches that trap sea turtles

Current action projects include:

• stranding response – sick, injured or dead turtles often wash up on beaches; volunteers assist authorities in responding to and collecting data from stranding events
• marine debris cleanups – thousands of sea turtles die every year from plastic ingestion and marine debris-related injuries
• coastal lights awareness – inappropriate coastal lighting disturbs nesting females and often sends hatchlings the wrong way
• community events – raising awareness of the organisation’s activities and encouraging greater support for sea turtles

Community members can make a real difference by getting involved with Sea Turtle Foundation and its on-going projects.

 

MORE INFO: Sea Turtle Foundation

 

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