Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641:body:0:p55
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 193847–204301

to inform future development proposals and approval decisions.
    * Assess the impact of trawling on the benthic environment in marine turtle foraging habitat and determine whether it is likely to have an impact on stock viability.
Recovery targets addressed                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Threats to be mitigated
1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     A, C, E, G, H, K, L
Description
Activities resulting in degradation in nesting, internesting and foraging habitats may directly cause turtle mortality, or indirectly contribute to a decreased stock viability by reducing food availability, reducing growth rates or fecundity, or increasing susceptibility to injury and disease. Marine turtles show high fidelity to important foraging grounds that are often used by multiple stocks and species, and when impacted, can reduce the health of multiple stocks, subsequently affecting fecundity. To minimise the loss and degradation of habitats, any proposed action needs to consider habitat requirements at early stages of planning, and fisheries need to consider improving education and best practice management. Infrastructure and development should be managed to ensure marine turtles continue to utilise habitat critical to the survival of marine turtles without injury and are not displaced as a result of these activities. In particular, management of both dredging and trawling must take into account the impact of changes to the benthic environment in terms of the flow-on implications for marine turtle stock viability.
Responsible agencies and potential partners: Australian, state, territory and local government, relevant non-government organisations, industry partners, fisheries managers and developers.
Within the life of this plan
Measure of success: The recovery of marine turtle stocks and the functionality of their habitat is not adversely affected by coastal development, infrastructure, dredging or trawling activities.
Risks: New information is not distributed and decisions are made without the benefit of robust information.
Likelihood of success: Moderate

Action Area A10                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Number of stocks with threat rated as 'very high' or 'high'
Maintain and improve sustainable Indigenous management of marine turtles                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             0
3
Action
    * Continue to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to sustainably manage the traditional take of turtles and eggs through a collaborative approach between government agencies and Indigenous communities.
    * Support Indigenous ranger and community groups to implement management plans and other mechanisms, and build capacity to undertake monitoring, education, and compliance management regarding harvest of marine turtles and their eggs.
    * Ensure scientific information is shared with communities and government to inform management decisions.
    * Develop mechanisms by which conservation management and other skills are accredited and linked to vocational outcomes for Indigenous rangers.
Recovery targets addressed                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Threats to be mitigated
1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    B, E, I
Description
Indigenous harvest of eggs and turtle meat occurs across northern Australia and is managed