Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641:body:0:p58
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 219326–223946

monitored parameters specific to the stock, current trends, threats and existing management. Monitoring should be sufficient to allow for modelling purposes. All monitoring is to be undertaken in a statistically robust manner. As there is a paucity of data on foraging grounds for flatback, hawksbill and olive ridley turtles in particular, it is a high priority to identify and monitor key foraging grounds.
As is the case for index beaches, selection of key foraging habitats to monitor should include consideration of the number of species present, accessibility of the site for repeatable monitoring and knowledge of major foraging areas.
Foraging ground information should be available to decision makers to ensure that robust and well informed environmental decisions that may affect any key foraging grounds can be made.
Currently known key foraging grounds have been identified in stock specific tables (Section 5.4).
Responsible agencies and potential partners: Australian, state, territory and local governments, research institutions, relevant non-government organisations, industry partners and community groups.
Within the life of this plan
Measure of success: Demographic parameters at foraging grounds are better understood for all species. Important foraging habitat is identified for hawksbill, flatback and olive ridley turtles. Foraging ground data is more publicly available.
Risks: Insufficient resources to fund the monitoring of foraging areas.
Likelihood of success: Moderate

Action Area B3
Address information gaps to better facilitate the recovery of marine turtle stocks
Action
    * Fill knowledge gaps in the life history of all species such that threats can be assessed and addressed throughout the entire life cycle.
    * Understand the impacts of anthropogenic noise on marine turtle behaviour and biology.
    * Describe disease and pathogen prevalence and assess the implications for stock viability. Where necessary, identify causal factors and appropriate management responses.
    * Finalise the genetic delineation of flatback, hawksbill and olive ridley turtle stocks in Western Australia and determine the stock composition of turtles foraging in New South Wales.
Recovery targets addressed                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Threats to be mitigated
1.2,2.1, 2.2, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        K, M
Description
Recovering marine turtle stocks requires an understanding of the threats impacting on all life history phases. There are currently large knowledge gaps in terms of neonate ecology, pelagic post-hatchling life phase, triggers for reproductive migration and mating areas for all species. In addition, better understanding of the foraging ecology of olive ridley, hawksbill and flatback turtles is required. Knowledge gaps should be filled to enable whole-of-life cycle management. Greater understanding of all demographic parameters will facilitate the development of stock viability models for high priority stocks to better assess management approaches, particularly designation of habitat critical to the survival of each stock.
Noise in the marine environment is expected to increase in areas of expanding industrial development