Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641:body:0:p65
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 276096–294312

(Yirralka), Dhimurru, Anindilyakwa (Groote Eylandt Archipelago), Yanyuwa (Li-Anthawirriyarra), Barni-Wardimantha Awara Yanyuwa (Sir Edward Pellew), and Thuwathu/Bujimulla (Wellesley Islands). Management activities include ghost net and marine debris patrols and clean up, monitoring of nesting turtle abundance, and satellite tracking of adult females.
Historically, this stock is likely to have been heavily impacted by bycatch in the trawl fisheries until turtle excluder devices were introduced in 2001[23]. The Gulf of Carpentaria is considered to be a ghost net hotspot with estimates of 672-2015 green turtles being captured each year in ghost nets[3]. Similarly, fishery bycatch hotspots have been identified in the Gulf of Carpentaria, with pelagic gillnets particularly problematic for green turtles in the Northern Territory[196]. Concerns were raised during community consultation about the potential for impacts of trawling, where the nets damage the benthic environment in this region[4].
Historically, there has also been a reported high level of egg take in some parts of this region over time[36, 125]. Communities that identified take as a potential concern have proposed increasing education and support for ranger groups as the most effective means to manage this threat[5].
The potential for future oil and gas expansion in the Gulf of Carpentaria poses a threat to this stock from increased noise, lighting, and risk of oil and chemical spills. Anecdotal evidence suggests that an increase in foreign fishing vessels entering the Gulf peaked in 2005, but by 2011 had declined due to enforcement and education[6].
There is no long-term monitoring data from index beaches available for this stock. To determine whether the stock is recovering from historical threats it is necessary to establish long-term monitoring at appropriate index beaches.
Priority actions specifically required to recover this stock                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Action Area
    * Ensure clean-up activities are timed appropriately to coincide with on-shore peaks in marine debris (i.e. prior to wet season).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A3

    * Devise innovative methods for the early identification and intervention of ghost nets entering the Gulf of Carpentaria.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A3

    * Develop and support alternate technologies for the disposal of collected waste.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A3
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             A3
    * Support collection of tissue samples from stranded marine turtles.
    * Support and expand indigenous ranger and community management programs.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A10
    * Engage in and implement bi- and multi- lateral agreements to improve the protection of Australia's marine turtles through best practice fisheries management.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A7
    * Better understand risk from fisheries interactions.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A7
    * Commence long-term monitoring of index beaches and key foraging areas.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 B1, B2
Measure of success
Trends in nesting turtle abundance are assessed for this stock                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               B1

Green – Cobourg (G-Cobourg)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Unknown
Threats                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       B. Marine debris – entanglement          Very high
A. Climate change and variability                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             High
C. Chemical and terrestrial discharge – acute                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 High
Important nesting areas                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Internesting Buffer: