Call for citizen scientists to monitor threatened turtle species on NSW beaches | New South Wales

The discovery of the first sea turtle nest during the breeding season sparked a rescue mission and launched a campaign to protect an endangered species.

The nest, recently found on the north coast of New South Wales, was too close to the water’s edge and the eggs had to be moved to prevent them from being submerged by waves and tides.

Loggerhead turtles are endangered in NSW due to the very small number of nesting females, making every egg valuable. Green turtles are among the sensitive species.

TurtleWatch NSW’s Merryn Dunleavy said every nest reported would be protected and “the commitment and interest of our coastal communities will be required to ensure these nests survive”.

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“We’re asking beachgoers to become citizen scientists and monitor local beaches along the NSW coastline from Tweed to Batemans Bay, looking for nesting sea turtles,” he said.

“Walk at your local beach early in the morning along the high tide line and look for turtle tracks in the sand, as sea turtles typically nest at night from dusk until dawn.”

After the first nest was spotted by a member of the public, trained and licensed TurtleWatch staff carefully placed the eggs into one of the cooler box incubators used in last season’s hatching success.

Last season, a record number of 18 sea turtle nests hatched successfully.

In early 2025, former tropical cyclone Alfred reshaped large sections of the northern NSW coastline, causing many beaches to lose their slowly rising sandy shores.

Some dunes have been shortened by several metres, creating steep cliffs that nesting females cannot climb, reducing suitable nesting habitat.

Thanks to the turtle team’s vigilance in February, National Parks and Wildlife Service and TurtleWatch staff rescued more than 1,000 eggs from nine nests before the hurricane.

After hatching, they were released to their original nesting grounds and 1,020 hatchlings were free swimming.

Prompt reporting of turtle tracks, low-lying nests and community awareness are key to protecting eggs and giving them a chance to hatch successfully.

The tracks are usually 80 to 100 cm wide and can sometimes be confused with tire tracks.

TurtleWatch needs volunteers to help with the nesting season, which runs from November to March along the NSW coastline.