Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641:body:0:p75
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 418919–427454

ocean.
Foraging grounds studied: Shark Bay[220].
Distribution: See Figure 12.
Stock description
The Western Australian loggerhead turtle stock is one of the largest in the world[136]. The majority of nesting is provided protection by the Shark Bay Marine Park and Shark Bay World Heritage Area and the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area[84].
Increased industrial development on the Western Australian coast has the potential to impact this stock, particularly through artificial lighting[121] and reduced water quality. While the risk of an oil spill is generally considered low, the consequences could be severe and the risk increases with the level of activity[206]. The consequences of an oil spill have implications for the immediate heath of marine turtles and their nesting, future nesting, water quality and general turtle health.
Temperature-dependent sex determination parameters for this stock are similar to those of other loggerhead turtle stocks[260]. Given changes in hatchling sex ratios and emergence success have already been observed in the south-west Pacific stock[40, 216, 217], it is likely that climate change poses a similar threat to the Western Australia stock.
Little is known about the foraging distribution of this stock, however loggerhead turtles in the region interact with long-line, trawling and lobster pot fisheries[136]. Loggerhead turtle/fishery interactions have been reported throughout the extent of the Commonwealth long-line fisheries operational ranges[196]. Loggerhead turtles are also occasionally found by Indigenous communities and rangers in ghost nets washed up on Northern Territory beaches[9]. However, mortality associated with ghost nets is not well quantified for this species.
In the past, this stock was subject to intense predation by foxes of eggs on mainland beaches[84]. Fox control management has been undertaken by the Western Australian Government in key coastal areas. Ghost crabs are also a major native predator for eggs and hatchlings.
Priority actions specifically required to recover this stock                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Action Area
    * Quantify and model how changes in ambient temperatures (sand and water), sea level, frequency of extreme weather events, ocean circulation and acidification affect marine turtle nesting, sex ratios, hatching success, habitats, food availability and their ability adapt to these changes.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               A2

    * Ensure that spill risk strategies and response programs include management for turtles and their habitats, particularly in reference to slow to recover habitats, e.g. seagrass meadows or corals.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           A4

    * Promote best practice bycatch mitigation and innovation in all Australian fisheries.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         A7
    * Understand post-hatchling movements and assess threats in the Indian Ocean.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  B3
    * Determine the extent to which marine debris is impacting loggerhead turtles.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 A3, B3
    * Continue long-term monitoring of nesting and foraging populations.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           B1,B2
Measure of success
Trends in nesting turtle abundance for this stock remain stable or are increasing                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  B1

Flatback – Eastern Queensland (F-eQld)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Stable[148]
Threats                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A.