$2.8m funding to protect endangered turtles from feral animals

Of the six species of marine turtles found in the Great Barrier Reef, three are endangered and three are critically endangered. This is one small step to help address that:

The Qld and federal governments have pledged $2.8m in funding to protect marine turtles from feral animals in Mon Repos.

State and federal government funding to protect endangered turtles from feral animals was announced in Bundaberg on Thursday.

Special envoy for the Great Barrier Reef Nita Green and ALP Bundaberg MP Tom Smith announced a joint federal and Qld government commitment of $2.8 million towards protecting threatened marine turtles in the Great Barrier Reef at a media conference at the Mon Repos Turtle Centre.

The funding will be used for projects to support the protection of turtle eggs and turtle hatchlings from threats like feral animals, habitat loss and marine debris.

Of the six species of marine turtles found in the Great Barrier Reef, three are endangered, and three are critically endangered.

Projects in the pipeline include the use of thermal imaging and drones to control feral pigs, which along with foxes are the main predators of turtle eggs and hatchlings.

Projects will be undertaken in and around the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, including in western Cape York, and will be managed by the Qld government and delivered through grants.

The federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek said trials of programs in line for funding have significantly reduced turtle nest predation.

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said programs have significantly reduced turtle nest predation by feral pigs.

“Studies conducted in western Cape York have shown feral pigs were responsible for the loss of up to 70 per cent of clutches of eggs on many beaches,” Ms Plibersek said.

“But since the program started, predation on turtle nests has been reduced to only 8 per cent within the project areas.

“That’s why we’re investing more to continue this vital work and protect these precious creatures for our kids and grandkids.”

State Environment Minister Leanne Linard said state government initiatives such as the Nest to Ocean Turtle Protection Program had been successful in protecting turtle hatchlings since its inception in 2014.

“The Nest to Ocean Program has consistently achieved greater than 90 per cent nest survival as a result of the predator control activities and direct nest protection,” Ms Linard said.

“In total, it is estimated that approximately 2.5 million hatchlings have been protected since the inception of the program.”

ALP Bundaberg MP Tom Smith said Bundaberg was “proud to play an important role in the protection of turtles on Australia’s east coast”.

“Our region is home to the Mon Repos Conservation Park, which supports the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on the east coast and has the most significant loggerhead turtle nesting population in the South Pacific region,” he said.

“Our community understands the importance of conservation and the financial benefits to our local economy that the turtle season brings”.

In June 2023 the Qld government announced $1 million in funding for the Fraser Coast Marine Turtle Rehabilitation and Research Centre to support research into the ecology and sustainability of marine turtle species.