These ancient sea creatures are among the most endangered animals on the planet. Sea turtles or also called marine turtles have been on Earth for more than 230 million years, have a lifespan over 50 years and rely on safe, clean beaches for successful breeding. As well as threats from disease, entanglement, illegal fishing and by-catch, the marine turtles’ nesting beaches in northern Australia need urgent protection from predators and marine debris.

Taking action to conserve marine turtles

Conservation Volunteers conduct critical monitoring programs and nest protection work in the remote north-west of Western Australia. As part of our national recovery plan, all of our research is carried out under permit and using strict ethics approved protocols.

Sea turtles need clean beaches to survive.

This critical nesting and marine debris research and information is used to improve the management nesting beaches and coastlines to help conserve these special creatures. During the nesting season, our volunteers also conduct daily surveys of beaches in Western Australia and Cobourg Peninsula in the Northern Territory, collecting information and raising community awareness about the fragile Flatbacks.

We do this to ensure that these marine turtles have safe, clean beaches in which to lay their eggs and to give them the best possible chance of nesting success. Female turtles are also tracked using GPS transmitters to follow their movements and understand their feeding habits in the vast ocean.

Help save the Flatback Sea Turtle

Saving sea turtles is urgent, important and costly. You can volunteer to assist in turtle monitoring and marine debris projects or donate to support our work with sea turtles.
Together we can ensure that these ancient reptiles are around for a few more million years!

Further Information

For further information  the national recovery plan provides useful information