$1million turtle centre to help declining population

The state government has allocated $1 million to the development of the Fraser Coast Marine Turtle Rehabilitation and Research Centre.

The state government has allocated $1 million to the development of the Fraser Coast Marine Turtle Rehabilitation and Research Centre. Pictured: George Seymour, Leanne Linard, Prof. Helen Bartlett and Adrian Tantari.

The state government has allocated $1 million to the development of the Fraser Coast Marine Turtle Rehabilitation and Research Centre, after new research about a mysterious disease impacting the already declining sea turtle population across the Great Sandy Region.

Research teams at the University of Sunshine Coast discovered a disease eating away at the shells of turtles, which they have aptly referred to as soft shell syndrome.

Environment Minister Leanne Linard said the new facility would bridge a gap between much-needed turtle care and rehabilitation and ongoing turtle health research, improving the chances of survival for individual turtles and turtle conservation.

“The new centre will also improve community awareness of the plight of marine turtles and the need to maximise biodiversity in the region through education led by the University of Sunshine Coast.”

Once the facility is fully operational, it will allow for the improved protection of marine turtles and is expected to aid the recovery of more than 150 sick and injured marine turtles every year.

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The Great Sandy Strait and the Fraser Coast region are visited by six of the world’s seven marine turtle species, three of which are endangered.

Hervey Bay MP Adrian Tantari said “the Fraser Coast is one of four major sea turtle stranding ‘hot spots’ in Queensland and has experienced an increase in sick and injured marine turtles as a result of last year’s extreme weather events in Southern Queensland”.

“Currently, sick or injured turtles are assessed and transported by turtle rescue volunteers to specialist facilities on the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast for rehabilitation due to no local facilities.

“For the dozens of turtles rescued from the Great Sandy region every year, the minimum two-hour journey to a facility can create additional risks and hinder an animal’s ability to recover.”

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said the Fraser Coast was also experiencing a high number of sea turtle strandings and floaters, indicating there was something affecting the health of the turtle population.

“The high number of turtles needing to be rescued is very concerning.”

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University of the Sunshine Coast Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Helen Bartlett said “the data on turtle health and movement gathered through this centre will provide critical understanding of the ecology and sustainability of the different species who live here and will give us new insights into the threats facing Australia’s sea turtles.”

“To rescue and rehabilitate sea turtles is vitally important, as is understanding the cause of these turtle strandings and deaths.”