BACK TO NATURE - Evidence of failing nature laws

Marine experts and trackers have uncovered a dramatic surge in turtle strandings and deaths in South East Queensland over recent weeks, raising alarm bells for the health of waterways and threatened species that federal nature laws are meant to protect.

At least 19 green turtles have washed up along beaches from Deception Bay across Redcliffe Peninsula and down to Sandgate since October, and dozens of young green turtles and even a deceased dugong on Bribie Island and surrounds in recent weeks. 

The Queensland Conservation Council says that these strandings are very concerning and need to be urgently investigated. Climate change is the biggest threat facing marine species, and their decline is sending us a loud message about what’s happening in our oceans. 

QCC urges the federal government to deliver strong new federal nature laws including national environmental standards that protect threatened species like green turtles, listed as vulnerable under the federal nature law.

Turtle tracker and conservationist, Diane Oxenford, of Bribe Island Turtle Trackers, said: “Marine volunteers around Bribie Island have been getting calls nearly every day to attend to very sick or dead juvenile green turtles. This is way more deaths than I’ve ever seen before, almost as if it is an epidemic.

“The young turtles are covered in moss and crustaceans, showing signs of starvation, and have been floating sick for so long that their whole condition deteriorates.

“I suspect their marine home has been contaminated by recent flood waters from the catchment area draining into Moreton Bay via rivers and creeks. Also their once nourishing sea grass beds have been suffocated by silt also washed down from the catchment.

“These are growing turtles that have not had the chance to gain the necessary condition and immunities to survive such an unhealthy environment.

“We’ve seen boat-struck turtles wash up on the beach. When sick they become lethargic which makes them vulnerable to boat strikes. Despite hearing a boat coming, they don’t have the energy to get out of the way in time.”

Marine researcher and Associate Professor Kathy Townsend, University of the Sunshine Coast, said: “Turtles are suffering from things we haven't seen before, with an increase in diseased and injured turtles in Moreton Bay.

“The elephant in the room is climate change. It’s not going to go away if we don’t take action urgently. We can’t ignore it and hope it fixes itself. Every year we delay, the pressure on marine life grows.

“It’s all connected, climate change, pollution and habitat loss. Sea turtles are telling us what’s happening in our oceans. Their decline is a reflection of the wider environmental crisis with water quality.”

Nature Campaigner Natalie Frost, Queensland Conservation Council, said: “Green turtles are protected under our federal nature law, but sadly these recent strandings highlight the urgent need for an overhaul of the failing laws. 

“Green turtles have survived for millions of years — but they can’t survive poor policy and inaction on climate.  Without strong national nature laws that actually protect habitat and water quality, these animals don’t stand a chance.

“Healthy seagrass meadows and clean coastal waters are critical for marine turtles, but both are being eroded by unchecked coastal development and weak federal nature laws that don’t address climate change. 

“Minister Watt needs to deliver strong new federal nature laws that crack down on big polluters that increase the risks of climate change and provide strong upfront protections for threatened species including marine turtles. Upfront protections can be achieved by creating bioregional plans with designated conservation zones that protect irreplaceable habitat and restore the health of riparian zones that feed into ramsar listed wetlands such as Moreton Bay.”