Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641:body:0:p74
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 404823–419182

beaches with changes in hatchling sex ratios and emergence success[40] and increased extreme weather events resulting in erosion of nesting sites[136].
Management of the stock in Australia is primarily undertaken by the Queensland Government and greater than 80 per cent of nesting in Australia occurs in protected areas[144]. In 2014, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals agreed a framework for the regional management of this stock through the Single Species Action Plan for Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta) in the South Pacific Ocean. This plan addresses threats to this stock throughout their range. Given the longevity of existing nesting and foraging ground monitoring, continued monitoring will allow the assessment of efficacy of threat management and demonstrate stock recovery[32, 34, 35].
Priority actions specifically required to recover this stock                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Action Area
    * Implement the Single Species Action Plan for Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta) in the South Pacific Ocean.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A1, A3, A5, A7, A8
    * Quantify the impact of international fishery bycatch on this stock.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A7
    * Assess the impacts of marine debris, particularly on post-hatchling life phase.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A3
    * Manage artificial light from onshore and offshore sources to ensure that biologically important behaviour of nesting adults and dispersing hatchlings can continue.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A8
    * Understand changes in stock trends through monitoring of nesting beaches and demographics at key foraging areas to assess recruitment of juveniles from the pelagic life phase.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B1, B2

    * Identify potential nesting and foraging areas and ensure they are being protected and managed to provide refugia and range expansion opportunities.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A2, B3

Measure of success
New recruits to foraging grounds are returning in increasing numbers                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           B2

Loggerhead – Western Australia (LH-WA)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Stable[84]
Threats                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A. Climate change and variability  High
C. Chemical and terrestrial discharge – acute                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      High
F. Fisheries bycatch – domestic                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    High
Important nesting areas                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Internesting Buffer: 20 km
Major: Dirk Hartog Island, South Muiron Island, North West Cape, Gnaraloo Bay[136].                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Mating: Unknown
Minor: Mainland from Shark Bay to southern North-West Shelf (Northern end Ningaloo Marine Park)[136].                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Nesting: Nov–Mar (peak Jan)
Index beaches monitored: Dirk Hartog Island (1993-2000; 2011- ), South Muiron Island (1986-1999), North West Cape (1986-2000), Gnaraloo Station (2011- )[11, 93, 94, 193].                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Hatching: Jan–May
Foraging habitat
Post-hatchling/young juveniles: Unknown, likely to disperse through waters of the Indian Ocean.
Juvenile-adult: Tidal/sub-tidal habitats with hard and soft substrates including rocky and coral reefs, muddy bays, sand flats, estuaries and seagrass meadows[18]. A proportion of turtles may also remain resident in the open 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