Authorities and conservation groups urge boaties to ‘go slow for those below’

Two turtles have died in tragic circumstances in the space of a few weeks in waters off Brisbane, prompting a tearful reaction from an expert and a plea for visitors to heed legal warnings.

Conservation groups and authorities have called for boaties and fishers to slow down in marine parks following the deaths of two giant green sea turtles in Moreton Bay this month. PIC: Stuart Ireland

Authorities have fined a man for speeding in a Moreton Bay marine park as conservation groups call for boaties to slow down following the tragic deaths of two giant sea turtles this month from propeller strikes.

Turtles of Moreton Bay spokesman Geoff Redman was called to inspect two recent turtle deaths both believed to be from propeller strikes.

“The first day of 2020 was a very sad day for me,” he said.

“A boat strike on a very large (114cm) female green turtle (found) near the Sea, Salt and Vine Cafe at Scarborough.

“It actually made me cry.

“I would say over 80 years of age and a lovely looking girl she was. RIP.”

Mr Redman thanked all those who reported finding her.

He said within days he was called to Scotts Point where a second (male) green turtle was found.

“This lovely guy had been struck by a propeller,” Mr Redman said.

“That’s two large greens in a week by propellers in the Peninsula.”

The large male sea turtle with severe damage to its shell believed to be causes by a propeller strike. Photo. Turtles of Moreton Bay

Mr Redman urged boaties to slow down and called for the introduction of compulsory propeller guards to protect turtles, dugong and whales from strikes.

“All propellers should have a plastic guard around them,” he said.

People on the Redcliffe Peninsula reacted to the death of the giant female turtle on Facebook.

Raea Prinkey said on the Turtles of Moreton Bay Facebook page “We seen her and my boys were so sad. Asking so many questions about what happened”.

Karen Duffy said “Oh this is so sad! We saw 3 around the area between the Jetty and lagoon yesterday” and Caron Reid “Oh no ... people really need to be more aware. So sad, RIP beautiful lady.”

The deceased giant female green turtle found near Scarborough. Photo. Turtles of Moreton Bay.

A Department of Environment and Science (DES) spokesman said a man, intercepted by Marine Park Rangers from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service in 2017, was found guilty on 10 January, 2020 in the Sandgate Magistrates Court of “one offence of operating a vessel in a planing or non-displacement mode in a go slow area for turtles and dugong, in contravention of section 45(1) of the Marine Parks (Moreton Bay) Zoning Plan 2008”.

The man pleaded not guilty on December 17, 2019.

The man was fined $487 last week and ordered to pay legal costs of $1,000, and investigation costs of $684. No conviction was recorded.

The spokesman said the man had fled the scene, near Tangalooma and was tracked by rangers through his boat registration and video captured during the incident.

A boat strike is believed to have killed this green turtle in Moreton Bay earlier this month. Photo. Turtles of Moreton Bay

Australian Marine Conservation Society spokeswoman Katie Walters said the high vehicle traffic during summer was particularly dangerous for marine creatures.

“Go slow areas only make up a small percentage of the total marine park, and they help mitigate the risk of boat strikes to these amazing marine creatures,” she said.

“Female dugongs only have a single calf every three to seven years, so we can’t afford to lose any. Dugongs are also an endangered species, as are loggerhead turtles – one of six turtle species found in the Bay.”

“We know that the majority of visitors with boats abide by the rules because seeing dugongs and turtles is one of the biggest joys of being out on the water in this area.”

The DES spokesman said boaties and fishers were reminded to keep a “good lookout and ‘go slow for those below’ to help protect turtles and dugong”.

“People are urged to reduce their speed in estuaries, sandy straits, shallow inshore areas and reef flats, and avoid boating over shallow seagrass meadows where turtles and dugongs forage,” the spokesman said.

“Marine life, particularly turtles or dugongs, can be injured or killed by vessels when they come up for air.”

“Going too fast in a go-slow area can result in an on-the-spot fine of $533. Skippers travelling through “go slow” areas must operate their boats ‘off the plane’, and cannot operate boats in a manner or at a speed that would reasonably be expected to result in striking a turtle or dugong.”

The spokesman said designated go-slow areas were in some marine parks.

Permanent go-slow areas include Double Island Point in Great Sandy Marine Park, and Amity Banks in Moreton Bay Marine Park.

Go-slow areas are detailed in the Marine Parks (Moreton Bay) Zoning Plan 2019, which has recently replaced the Marine Parks (Moreton Bay) Zoning Plan 2008.

Seasonal go-slow areas in Great Sandy Marine Park are in place between 15 October and 30 April, to protect turtles congregating in their critical seasonal habitat areas.

These areas include:

• The Bundaberg coast, to protect the turtles associated with the Mon Repos turtle rookery, extending 300m from the shoreline between Elliott Heads and Burnett Heads
• Along the Sandy Cape coast off K’gari (Fraser Island), extending 500m from the shoreline between Sandy Cape and Rooney Point.

Anyone who comes across injured, stranded or dead marine wildlife should report it by calling 1300 130 372.

Details are in the marine parks visitor guides and zoning plans on the Department of Environment and Science website, www.des.qld.gov.au.