Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641:body:0:p20
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 55006–58108

Whiting (unpublished data 2016), Waayers et al. (2015)[232], Whittock et al. (2016)[253].

Olive Ridley Turtle Stock Dispersal

Figure 15. Indicative dispersal for the Northern Territory and north-western Cape York olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) stocks

 based on tag recovery, genetic mixed stock analysis and satellite telemetry. Green arrows represent turtles nesting outside Australia and foraging within Australian waters. Source data: Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection marine turtle tagging database, Dethmers et al. (2015)[49], Dwyer and Campbell (2016)[57], Hamel et al. (2008)[88], Jensen et al. (2013)[115], McMahon et al. (2007)[163], Whiting et al. (2007)[247].

3.3 Protected marine turtle habitats
Marine turtle habitats are protected through various mechanisms including through state, territory and Commonwealth legislation. For example, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP) re-zoning design incorporated all very high priority nesting and internesting sites for turtle species nesting in the GBRMP, and 20 per cent of each identified foraging area[53]. Similarly, the bioregional planning process that underpinned the development of the Commonwealth Marine Reserves took into account marine turtle habitat use[56]. Further, the majority of significant marine turtle nesting in eastern Queensland south of Cape York is afforded protection within Queensland National Parks or Regional Parks[136]. Marine Parks and Reserves in the Northern Territory and Western Australia similarly include specific protection for marine turtle nesting and foraging.
Indigenous Protected Areas, Indigenous Land Use Agreements and Traditional Use of Marine Resource Agreements often have a marine turtle management component.
In addition to these protections, the EPBC Act requires all recovery plans to identify habitat critical to the survival of the species. To ensure maintenance of genetic diversity, habitat critical to the survival of marine turtles has been identified in this plan for each genetic stock.
Please note that no "Critical Habitat" as defined under Section 207A of the EPBC Act (Register of Critical Habitat) has been identified and listed for marine turtles.

Habitat critical to the survival of a species
In accordance with the EPBC Act Significant Impact Guidelines 1.1 – Matters of National Environmental Significance, an action is deemed to have a significant impact if there is a real chance or possibility that it will adversely affect 'habitat critical to the survival of a species'. The guidelines define 'habitat critical to the survival of a species' as areas necessary:
    * for activities such as foraging, breeding or dispersal
    * for the long-term maintenance of the species (including the maintenance of species essential to the survival of the species)
    * to maintain genetic diversity and long term evolutionary development
    * for the reintroduction of populations or recovery of the species.
Habitat critical to the survival of a species for marine turtle stocks has been identified by consensus of a panel