Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641:body:0:p88
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 598259–609919

and variability   Very high
B. Marine debris – entanglement                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Very high
D. Terrestrial predation                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Very high
F. Fisheries bycatch – domestic                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     High
Important nesting areas                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Internesting Buffer: 20 km
Major: None.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Mating: Feb–Sep
Minor: Low density nesting occurs on western Cape York Peninsula between Weipa and Bamaga, particularly Pennefather River, Jannie Creek, Mapoon to Aurukun[136].                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Nesting: Mar–Oct (peak: Aug)
Index beaches monitored: None currently monitored.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Hatching: May–Dec
Foraging habitat
Post-hatchling/young juveniles: Unknown.
Juvenile-adult: Forage over soft-bottomed substrates (shallows - 200 m depth) along coastal zone of northern Australia[248].
Foraging grounds monitored: None.
Distribution: See Figure 15, noting this represents data from a small number of satellite tracked turtles.
Stock description
The olive ridley turtle stock nesting in Queensland is a small aggregation that is genetically distinct from olive ridley turtles nesting in the Northern Territory and neighbouring countries[115]. This stock is believed to be in decline as inferred from multiple decades of egg loss to terrestrial predators (estimated to occur in more than 90 per cent of nests)[136], likely entanglement in ghost nets[255], and fisheries bycatch[196]. There is limited monitoring at nesting beaches and currently no long-term monitoring occurring at foraging grounds. The majority of the existing management and research is undertaken by Indigenous ranger groups and communities, with some support through collaborations with industry and government. The Australian and Queensland governments jointly fund a targeted pig management program (2014-2017). However, management must be ongoing to successfully address nest predation.
The Gulf of Carpentaria is considered to be a ghost net hotspot with estimates that each year between 2043-6132 olive ridley turtles are captured in ghost nets[14]. While olive ridley turtles are the least frequently reported species in fishery logbooks, there is also a large proportion of unidentified turtles, which could include olive ridley turtles[196]. This combined with the small size of the stock means that fisheries interaction may be affecting the viability of the stock.
It is not known the extent to which olive ridley turtles will be able to adapt to environmental changes associated with climate change, however, the small size and limited region in which this stock nests makes them susceptible to sea level rise, increased extreme weather and changes in sand and water temperature. Given the assumed long-term decline in this stock, it is important to establish long‑term monitoring to assess the efficacy of management actions and to track recovery of the stock.
Priority actions specifically required to recover this stock                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Action Area
    * Support ongoing implementation of terrestrial predation management programs.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  A6
    * Liaise at a regional scale to address and reduce the source of marine debris in Australian waters.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A3
    * Maintain and expand partnership arrangements for the collection of marine debris (both onshore