Endangered green turtle deaths surge in protected Australian waters
Green turtles, under pressure from climate change and urban development, are protected under federal environmental laws, and one of the species becomes the target of a terrorist attack. national recovery plan for sea turtles. The area around Deception Bay and Bribie Island is mostly protected by the Moreton Bay Marine Park.
University of the Sunshine Coast Associate Professor Kathy Townsend said some deaths were not uncommon at this time of year; If turtles do not finish the summer in good body condition, they may become malnourished and have a weakened immune system at the end of winter.
But he said autopsies are necessary to determine the cause of death and help manage threats. For example, no one knew marine plastic was so lethal until scientists examined the insides of dead turtles.
Townsend said one problem in Moreton Bay, and also Hervey Bay further north, was the large amount of sediment carried in by floods over the past few years, which had smothered seagrass meadows where green turtles graze. Dugongs also use seagrass meadows for feeding, shelter and breeding.
“As we progress through climate change, these major storm events will occur more frequently and will certainly become more severe as we move into the future,” Townsend said. “Increased storm activity includes erosion of beaches where animals will lay their eggs and disruption of food supplies.”
He added that climate change is also disrupting reptiles’ body temperatures, making the female more likely to produce eggs.
A spokesperson for the Queensland Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation said in a statement that south-east Queensland is home to a healthy population of green turtles and most of the state’s turtle population is protected in marine parks.
“We have also begun work on a $35 million project to install specialist rainwater filtration devices in Moreton Bay to improve water quality and reduce impact on marine life,” the spokesman said.
“We prioritize the rehabilitation and release of sick and injured turtles whenever possible and recently secured $10 million in funding to build a world-class marine hospital on the Gold Coast.”
A spokesman for Environment Minister Murray Watt said in a statement that his department was monitoring the situation and working with the Queensland government.
