Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641:body:0:p28
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 87385–90544

most commonly encountered species (32.6 per cent)[256]. There is concern that juvenile hawksbill turtles foraging in coral reefs are captured in nets snagged on coral reefs[237]. Given the difficulties associated with removing nets from the marine environment, the primary approach to this threat has been determined to be source reduction.

Ingestion
Marine turtles can ingest non-organic material unintentionally. Ingestion of marine debris can cause internal wounds or suffocation. It can prevent feeding, leading to starvation and can create intestinal blockages that increase buoyancy and stop a turtle from diving[234]. In addition, toxins from ingested plastics may accumulate in marine turtle tissue with possible health implications[218]. Ingestion of marine debris is particularly likely for turtles foraging in coastal waters[204].

4C Chemical and terrestrial discharge
Sediment and a wide variety of pollutants can enter marine turtle habitat through processes including dumping, run-off from urban, agricultural or industrial sources, effluents, atmospheric deposition and leakage. In this plan, solid waste is considered in 4B Marine debris.

Acute chemical and terrestrial discharge
In this plan, acute chemical and terrestrial discharge refers to any release of pollutants and/or sediment into marine turtle habitat, including spills from land sources, vessels, drilling operations, and natural sources.
There is well documented evidence of the detrimental effects from encountering oil either via external contact, ingestion or inhalation, resulting in breathing, sight or gastro-intestinal injuries[154]. Oil present on or near a beach can persist in sticky or toxic forms in the environment (sand and sediments) for many years. Marine turtle nesting behaviour can uncover this resulting in sticky oil adhering to adults, eggs or hatchlings causing both physical (smothering) and physiological (toxic) effects. Oil is highly toxic to turtle eggs, and the toxic components can penetrate the skin and carapace of hatched and older marine turtles affecting respiration, salt gland function and blood chemistry[206].
The oil and gas industry is regulated under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority in Commonwealth waters beyond three nautical miles off shore and coastal areas where a state or territory has conferred regulatory powers and functions. In addition, the National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies (2015) sets out national arrangements, policies and principles for managing maritime environmental emergencies and is managed by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
Acute terrestrial discharge includes large sediment pulses due to extreme flooding events. These events can cause considerable loss of seagrass habitat due to light limitation[188] that in turn can result in decreased turtle health, starvation, increased stranding and decreased breeding condition[16]. These pulse events may also deliver sudden high contaminant loads to the system[141]. While the event itself may be of short duration, the loss of