Greenland et al., 2002:

"Entanglement in rope, fishing line, bags and ghost nets as well as in crab pots and float-lines has been an increasing problem through 2001 (29 reported cases) and 2002 (52 reported cases).

Incidental captures in crab pots was a greater problem in 2002 with an increase of more than 37 percent above the frequency in previous years (1999, 2000 and 2001). There is a rising incidence of small turtles being trapped inside collapsible, rectangular crab-pots that are now in common use with amateur crabbers. This type of mortality could be avoided if there was regulation of the maximum size entrance hole into crab traps such that small green and hawksbill turtles cannot fit through the hole.

Figure 1.  Juvenile green turtle (Chelonia mydas) drowned in a collapsible crab pot, Townsville November 2004.  Photo credit Queensland Parks and Wildlife. 

In 2001 five turtles were caught in a working crab pot, three in lost or discarded crab pots, two in working dillys, two trapped inside crab pots and four caught in unidentified condition or type of crab pot. In 2002 three turtles were caught in working crab pots, five in lost or discarded crab pots, nine trapped inside crab pots and 12 caught in an unidentified condition or type of crab pot. "

Figure 2.  Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) drowned following entanglement in crab-pot line. Ballina. Photo credit Australian Seabird Rescue Inc. 

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Citation and/or URL

Greenland, J.A., Limpus, C.J., and Currie, K.J. 2002.  Queensland Marine wildlife stranding and mortality database annual report 2001-2002 II.  Marine Turtles. Queensland Environmental Protection Agency. 73pp.  

Spatial Coverage

State of Queensland 

Temporal Coverage

2001 and 2002 

Update Frequency

Other Information

None