Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641:body:0:p39
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 118318–121413

internesting habitat should be scheduled outside the nesting season.
In accordance with the EPBC Act Policy Statement 2.1 – Interactions between Offshore Seismic Exploration and Whales: Industry Guidelines, all seismic survey vessels operating in Australian waters must undertake a soft start during surveys irrespective of location and time of year of the survey. Although these guidelines are specifically designed for interactions with cetaceans, the soft start provision may also afford protection for marine turtles. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has also committed to developing a guideline for the assessment and management of underwater noise impacts on species in the Great Barrier Reef[6, 41].

Chronic noise
Exposure to chronic (continuous) loud noise in the marine environment may lead to avoidance of important habitat. Sources of chronic noise include port facilities, shipping channels and the operation of some oil and gas infrastructure. Attenuation of noise and therefore scale of impact will vary depending on the volume and frequency of the sound and the dispersal characteristics of the local environment.
Further research is required to understand physical, biological and behavioural impacts of noise on marine turtles before it will be possible to fully assess the impact of this threat on marine turtle stocks in Australia.

4L Recreational activities
There are a number of nature-based tourism operations that specifically promote human interactions with marine turtles at nesting beaches (e.g. Mon Repos, Queensland; North West Cape, Western Australia). In addition, other tourism activities, particularly scuba diving can include observations of marine turtles as part of the experience. If managed correctly, these activities can have great conservation value by raising public awareness of the issues relating to marine turtles. However, when mismanaged, these operations have the potential for disturbing marine turtle nesting, internesting and foraging behaviour, ultimately impacting the viability of the stock.

Off-road vehicle interactions
The use of off-road vehicles on coastal beaches in Australia is a popular recreational activity. However, off-road vehicles can effect marine turtles either by crushing eggs or reducing emergence success via compacting sand over nests, eroding dunes (reducing suitable nesting habitat), and/or creating tyre ruts that can impede hatchlings reaching the sea[227].
Beach access is generally managed by local councils. Some councils have closed marine turtle nesting beaches to the public during the breeding season to reduce the impact on nesting turtles.

4M Diseases and pathogens
A number of diseases and infections have been identified in marine turtles, many of which are caused or exacerbated by poor water quality. Marine turtles are commonly affected by spirochiid parasites (blood flukes), and other parasites[66]. Bacterial infections can result from injuries caused by boat strikes and/or entanglement in fishing gear[65]. Disease outbreaks in food sources, such as seagrass, can also indirectly