Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641:body:0:p14
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 37541–40534

by post-hatchlings is found in the flatback turtle, whose hatchlings are thought to spend this life phase within the continental shelf waters of Australia[136].
While in pelagic habitats, all species are primarily carnivorous, feeding on a range of macro-zooplankton[133]. The feeding behaviour of pelagic turtles appears to be primarily opportunistic and a variety of anthropogenic debris has been found in the stomachs of loggerhead and green post-hatchling turtles[22]. The foraging ecology of post-hatchling flatback turtles is currently unknown. Limited observations suggest they also feed on small animals living in the water column[148].

Juvenile, sub-adult and adult
After leaving the oceanic habitat, juvenile turtles (i.e. not sexually mature) generally 'recruit' or take up residency in continental shelf waters where they inhabit sub-tidal and intertidal coral and rocky reefs and seagrass meadows, as well as deeper soft-bottomed habitats. In general, they do not form social groups, but feed as individuals. They tend to live year round in coastal waters, often displaying small home ranges. The exception to this is the leatherback turtle that spends most of its life in the open ocean travelling vast distances whilst foraging[136]. Additionally, an unknown proportion of green and loggerhead turtles do not recruit to an inshore feeding ground and remain in the open ocean as an adults[92]. There is a knowledge gap in this regard for hawksbill, flatback and olive ridley turtles.
Within Australian waters, most juvenile and sub-adult turtles (turtles approaching sexual maturity) show strong fidelity to chosen feeding grounds and do not move large distances[207]. Turtles living in feeding grounds within Australia may migrate to breed outside of Australian waters, and similarly, turtles nesting in Australia may live in foraging areas outside of Australian jurisdiction. For example, flatback turtles use foraging areas off Papua New Guinea and Indonesia[209, 213] and hawksbill turtles live in the Great Barrier Reef and nest on islands in the south Pacific[13].
In general, marine turtle growth is slow and varies among species, habitats, sex and maturity. Marine turtles require 20‑50 years to reach sexual maturity[7] and females will only reproduce when they are able to obtain and store sufficient fat to make the breeding migration and produce eggs. The time between female reproductive activity may vary from 1‑8 years depending on species and food availability[167]. Adult turtles show strong fidelity to both feeding and breeding grounds, migrating long distances (can be up to thousands of kilometres) to return to the region where they hatched[136]. Fidelity to natal breeding grounds means that turtles that nest within a region are genetically more similar to one another than turtles that nest further away[169].
Effective management requires a complete understanding of life history demographics and habitat requirements for each species to determine most