A compendium of information and basis for the development of policies and strategies for the conservation of marine turtles

The objective of this document is to provide a basis for managing human activities that will, or are likely to, affect the turtle populations occurring in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area so as to ensure their conservation and, where necessary, recovery.

Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION

2. CONTEXT AND LINKAGE WITH OTHER POLICIES

3. JURISDICTIONS AND BOUNDARIES IN THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

4. CHARACTERISTICS OF MARINE TURTLES

4.1. Characteristics of Marine Turtles Relevant to Management

4.1.1. Life Cycle

4.1.2. Genetic Stocks

4.1.3. Known threats to survival

4.1.4. Population Status

4.2. Summary and conclusions

5. GENERAL IMPACTS OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON MARINE TURTLES

5.1. Terminology: Impacts, Effects and Threats

5.2. Characteristics and Effects of Impacts

5.3. Specific Types of Impacts and Possible Effects

5.3.1. Accidental Ingestion of and Entrapment in Marine Debris

5.3.2. Deliberate or Reckless Killing and Injuring

5.3.3. Disease

5.3.4. Explosions

5.3.5. Food Depletion

5.3.6. Harassment

5.3.7. Incidental Catch in Fishing Gear

5.3.8. Live Capture

5.3.9. Noise

5.3.10. Physical Displacement

5.3.11. Physical Habitat Degradation or Destruction

5.3.12. Pollution

5.3.13. Predation by Feral Animals

5.3.14. Vessel Strikes

5.4. Summary and Conclusions

6. HUMAN ACTIVITIES IN THE GREAT BARRIER REEF WORLD HERITAGE AREA

6.1. Boats, Ships and Other Vessels

6.1.1. Potential Impacts

6.2. Coastal and Land-Based Actions

6.2.1. Potential Impacts

6.3. Defence Activities

6.3.1. Potential Impacts

6.4. Feeding

6.4.1. Potential Impacts

6.5. Fishing, Shark Control Programs and Aquaculture

6.5.1. Potential Impacts

6.6. Indigenous hunting

6.6.1. Potential Impacts

6.7. Live Display, Headstarting, Ranching and Captive Breeding

6.7.1. Potential Impacts

6.8. Marine Construction

6.8.1. Potential Impacts

6.9. Photography and Filming

6.9.1. Potential Impacts

6.10. Research and Monitoring

6.10.1. Potential Impacts

6.11. Tourism and Recreation

6.11.1. Potential Impacts

6.12. Trade of Turtles and Turtle Products

6.12.1. Potential Impacts

7. LIVE STRANDINGS AND CARCASSES

8. LITERATURE CITED

APPENDIX

Appendix 1 Management (M) and research (R) actions involving the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and criteria for their success.

TABLES

Table 1. Marine turtle species occurring in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and their conservation status as assessed by IUCN (the World Conservation Union), by the Australian Government, and by the State of Queensland.

Table 2. Life history parameters for marine turtles in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and eastern Queensland.

Table 3. Potential adverse impacts of human activities on marine turtles in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

Download

• Download 'Marine Turtles in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area' [ Adobe Acrobat Format 422.81KB ]