Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641:body:0:p4
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 8936–11993

canned turtle soup, meat export, and for the tortoiseshell trade. Although commercial harvest ceased in the mid-1900s, it contributed to an observable decline in nesting numbers. Contemporary threats, including habitat degradation, fisheries bycatch, nest predation and marine debris, have also contributed to the decline in marine turtles in recent decades.
Coastal Aboriginal people across northern Australia and Torres Strait Islander communities have cultural, social and spiritual ties to marine turtles and manage land and sea country with marine turtle conservation and ongoing customary use as a high priority.
The first Recovery Plan for Marine Turtles in Australia was adopted in July 2003. The Australian Government reviewed the 2003 plan and recommended that it be remade. This new Recovery Plan for Marine Turtles in Australia (the plan) has been developed in conjunction with state and territory governments, Indigenous communities and other stakeholders.

Recovery Objective
The long-term recovery objective for marine turtles is to minimise anthropogenic threats to allow for the conservation status of marine turtles to improve so that they can be removed from the EPBC Act threatened species list.

Interim Recovery Objectives
Recognising that the long-term recovery objective is unlikely to be achieved during the ten year life of this plan, the following interim objectives and targets have been set for the life of this plan. The effectiveness of this plan will be measured, and progress towards long-term objectives assessed on the basis of how well the following targets for interim recovery objectives are met:
    1)      Current levels of legal and management protection for marine turtles are maintained or improved both domestically and throughout the migratory range of Australia's marine turtles.
    2)      The management of marine turtles is supported.
    3)      Anthropogenic threats are demonstrably minimised.
    4)      Trends at index beaches, and population demographics at important foraging grounds are described.

Biology
The life history traits of marine turtles make them vulnerable to a wide range of anthropogenic threats. These traits include late maturation, high natural mortality of hatchlings and small juveniles, strong fidelity to breeding areas, migrating over long distances, and use of both terrestrial and marine environments to complete their lifecycle.
Marine turtles return to the region where they hatched to breed. This trait has resulted in discrete genetic stocks within each species. Each genetic stock represents a unique evolutionary history, which, if lost, cannot be replaced[63, 168]. As such, while the plan identifies the overarching priority actions for the protection of all species (Section 5.3), it also specifically identifies threats, actions and research requirements that are unique to each stock (Section 5.4). In doing so, the plan will also ensure the conservation of genetic diversity. Amongst the six species of marine turtle found in Australia, this plan considers 22