Protecting Bribie’s nesting turtles

Moreton Bay is celebrating another successful turtle nesting season with 26 nests recorded on Bribie Island.

Six of the seven species of marine turtle have been recorded in Moreton Bay ahead of today’s World Turtle Day (May 23).

Female loggerhead turtles lay multiple clutches each nesting season and each clutch averages 125 eggs.

Rising sand temperatures due to climate change are making more Queensland turtle nesting beaches warmer and creating a feminisation of populations which can impact future breeding.

“City of Moreton Bay has implemented measures to protect marine turtles in breeding season, including shade structures to block light spillage onto nests, modification of lighting adjacent to turtle nesting beaches and community education,” Mayor Peter Flannery said.

“We've also been collecting sand temperature data on our nesting beaches, with results showing promising temperatures for producing more male hatchlings.

“Temperatures of our nesting beaches this season averaged at 27.39 degrees Celsius in non-shaded areas and 26.54 degrees Celsius in shaded areas.

“We know in Far North Queensland, sand temperatures of above 29.1 degrees Celsius are producing mostly female hatchlings, so our nesting grounds play an important role in safeguarding future turtle populations.”

Council works with Bribie Island Turtle Trackers, who monitor beaches daily in the nesting season, collecting data for a live map to help maintenance or project works.

Council also installs shade structures around vulnerable nests identified by volunteers to give hatchlings the best chance of survival.

Turtle hatchlings can become disoriented by artificial lighting, causing them to head inland instead of the moon guiding them towards the water.

Simple ways you can help nesting turtles and hatchlings include:

• Keep off sand dunes to avoid erosion or potentially impacting a nest.

• If you live or are holidaying next to the beach during nesting season, turn off outdoor lights and block light spillage from 7.30pm to minimise lights shining on the beaches.

• Keep dogs on a leash or within an approved dog off leash area and off the dunes.

• Follow directions in go-slow areas for turtles and dugongs. Keep vessels at reduced speeds in estuaries, sandy straits, and shallow inshore areas.

• Only use legal crab pots and inspect them regularly to ensure turtles aren’t caught in pots or float lines.

• Remember run-off from property enters stormwater drains, which ends up in Moreton Bay.

• Join a local volunteer or Bushcare group.

For more information, visit Marine turtle nesting and protection - City of Moreton Bay.