Marine turtles in Western Australia

Turtle Watcher's Code of Conduct

There are three important stages in the reproductive process of marine turtles: mating, nesting and hatching. All of these take place along the beaches of the Ningaloo Marine Park. If done correctly, marine turtles can be observed without undue disturbance to the breeding process. For this reason the Turtle Watchers' Code of Conduct was developed for visitors to follow.

Marine turtles are highly sensitive to light and movement when on the beach. When they are disturbed during the nesting process by people seeking a turtle viewing opportunity, they abort their nesting attempt and return to the water. Repeated disturbance may result in turtles releasing their eggs at sea, and cause turtles to expend an enormous amount of energy in futile nesting attempts. Such disturbance could have a negative impact on the reproductive success of threatened marine turtle species.

Non-invasive turtle viewing requires a detailed understanding of the nesting process and appropriate interaction behaviour. Untrained and self-guided viewing often disturbs the nesting process, impacting the female turtle's valuable energy reserves and potentially, her reproductive success. Research shows that turtle viewing experiences are more probable and rewarding for those who participate in a guided experience.

If you would like to view nesting marine turtles it is recommended that you participate in guided turtle experience. By doing this you are actively helping to conserve marine turtles and will have a better opportunity to view marine turtles nesting in the natural environment.

If you come across nesting turtles, please follow the Turtle Watcher's Code of Conduct.

Mating

There are only a few known mating areas in Ningaloo Marine Park. Between September and November, female turtles are often seen resting at the water's edge in these areas. During this time they are heavily stressed and are extremely vulnerable to both natural and human impacts. It is critical that female turtles are able to replenish their energy by resting on the shore and that NO disturbance to turtles occurs in these areas. It is therefore important to adhere to the following Turtle Watchers' Code of Conduct:

• Go slow in marine turtle habitats and always drive your vessel with care to avoid injuring turtles.
• Do not take motorised or sailing craft into mating areas. Paddle craft should also take care within turtle mating aggregations.
• Dogs are not permitted in Cape Range National Park or Ningaloo Marine Park. Dogs should be kept away from turtle nesting beaches.
• If a mating area is observed stand well back from the shore, at least 30m, so resting turtles are not forced back into the water prematurely.
• Do not touch or disturb resting, sleeping or mating turtles. Making unnecessary contact with turtles is an offence under the CALM Act & Wildlife Conservation Act.
• Regulations prohibit vessels discharging waste including litter or sewage within the marine park. Litter is known to have adverse affects on all marine life, including turtles.
• Minimise any externally visible lighting onboard your vessel to avoid disturbing nesting turtles and attracting turtle hatchlings.

Nesting

Turtle watching is becoming an increasingly popular activity in Ningaloo Marine Park. Unfortunately, marine turtles are easily disturbed by humans seeking turtle encounters on the beach.

Such disturbances often result in female turtles abandoning their nesting attempt and returning to the sea. To reduce the chance of disturbing turtles, increase their nesting success and support long term survival of the species, it is important that you follow the Turtle Watchers' Code of Conduct below:

• No Glow - refrain from using torches to search for turtles. This discourages turtles from emerging and may make nesting turtles return to the water.
• Move Slow - turtles can detect sudden movements so move slowly at all times when on the beach.
• Stay Low - walk on the beach close to the water's edge. Stay low and out of sight of nesting turtles.
• If you see a marine turtle nearby, "STOP" - where you are, "DROP" - slowly to a sitting position and stay very still like a "ROCK". Wait here until she has moved up the beach to begin digging.
• Walk or sit on the beach in a tight group. The recommended group size for self guided visitors is 5 people.
• Avoid excess noise.
• Do not shine lights on turtles and avoid flash photography at all times.
• When you can see sand being flicked into the air, stay at least 15m away.
• When sand flicking has stopped you may approach a nesting turtle. Wait until she is laying before crawling up behind her on your stomach ("commando crawl").
• Do not move closer than 1m behind her. She will be quite still when laying her eggs - if sand is spraying or she is using her flippers, she is not laying.
• Always position yourself behind the turtle and stay low (sit, crouch or lie on the sand). If you are getting covered in sand as she digs YOU ARE TOO CLOSE!
• Be patient. She may take time to rest or abandon the nest for a variety of reasons, including hitting an obstacle or the sand being too dry.
• Let her return to the ocean unimpeded. Stand behind her at all times, no closer than 2 metres. Remember it is illegal to touch marine turtles.
• Campfires are banned on nesting beaches - light can deter nesting turtles and disorientate hatchlings
• Do not litter on nesting beaches or anywhere within Ningaloo Marine Park.
• Please depart all beaches by 11pm to allow a period of undisturbed nesting to occur.
• Along with adhering to the above guidelines please ensure you have read the Code of Conduct Table (below).

Turtle nesting occurs in six stages

Times taken vary for each species – green turtles take the longest, and hawksbills are the quickest.

Hatching

Flatback turtle hatchlings

In natural conditions very few marine turtle hatchlings survive to adulthood. Additional, human induced pressures have further decreased their likelihood of survival. Please ensure you follow the Turtle Watchers' Code of Conduct below to minimise human impact on hatchlings:

• Do not touch or handle the hatchlings.
• Do not use any form of light or flash photography - this will disturb and disorientate hatchlings.
• Disorientated hatchlings are exposed to greater predation and risk of being stranded on the beach, where they will dehydrate and die.
• Do not disturb the nest.
• Stand at least 1m away from the nest.
• Do not compact the sand - other hatchlings may still be in the nest waiting to emerge.
• Do not touch hatchlings.
• Stand still when hatchlings are moving down the beach to avoid stepping on them.
• Allow hatchlings to move to the sea without disturbance or assistance. It is important that hatchlings make their own way to the ocean by using their flippers. This helps to exercise their lungs, allowing them to swim and dive when they reach the water. As a result hatchlings are able to relocate their nesting beach when they are mature enough to breed.
• Remain behind hatchlings at all times.
• Do not illuminate hatchlings in the water
• Please do not drive your vehicle on turtle nesting beaches. Hatchlings become trapped in wheel ruts, greatly decreasing their chance of survival.