Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641:body:0:p97
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 688053–691135

lions), seabirds and elasmobranchs (sharks and rays). The reduction of introduced fauna predation, particularly pig predation, will also benefit native species including freshwater and estuarine crocodiles and freshwater turtles and their associated coastal wetlands communities.
Marine turtles fulfil a broad ecological role within marine and coastal ecosystems as grazers of seagrass and algal pastures, and as predators of marine sponges, molluscs, crustaceans and jellyfish[19, 219]. They also contribute to cycling of nutrients between marine and terrestrial systems when laying eggs and they influence plant communities in the coastal areas where they nest[89]. During various parts of their life cycle, marine turtles are important prey to other species and contribute nutrients to coastal and island beaches. Hatchlings are prey to several species of birds and fish, varanids and ghost crabs, and larger turtles are prey to sharks and crocodiles. Protecting and maintaining marine turtle stocks may therefore benefit other threatened marine species sharing the same ecosystems.

6.4 Social and economic considerations
The implementation of this plan is unlikely to cause adverse social and economic impacts. Instead, it is likely that the implementation of the actions outlined in this plan will provide positive social, economic and educational impacts. Marine turtles are of economic value for ecotourism with large numbers of visitors to beaches across northern Australia during the Australian summer to view nesting turtles and emerging hatchlings. For example, Mon Repos, Bundaberg, Queensland attracted more than 25,000 visitors during the 2011/12 nesting season. Such tourism ventures not only provide economic revenue, but education opportunities to increase the public awareness of the threats faced by marine turtles and their habitats.
Many turtles and their rookeries in Australia are located in the traditional territories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples. Marine turtles play an important role in the traditions and culture of these people. Tourism and education ventures can be improved through incorporating the knowledge and expertise held by Indigenous Australians, which in turn can provide new employment and income generating avenues and help in the conservation of turtles and their habitats[222].

6.5 Offsetting
Offsetting as a mechanism works as a trade-off between permanent immediate impacts on biodiversity and uncertain future biodiversity gains[15]. Consequently, offsetting is a last resort for biodiversity management, used only in an attempt to compensate for unavoidable damage to the species or its habitats. The best environmental option is to avoid impacting nesting beaches, internesting areas (during key periods) or affecting foraging habitats, particularly those described as habitat critical to the survival, without compelling reason.
With regard to marine turtles there is no way to fully offset an activity, as seagrass meadows are not easily restored, and due to the high site fidelity once a natal nesting area is