Threatened species & ecological communities

Draft Recovery Plan for Marine Turtles in Australia

Department of the Environment and Heritage

About the document

Marine turtles are long-lived, migratory species that travel large distances, sometimes crossing international borders between nesting beaches and foraging areas. Six species of marine turtles are found in Australian waters - the loggerhead (Caretta caretta), olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), flatback (Natator depressus), green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea).

All species of marine turtles found in Australia are listed as threatened, migratory and marine species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The loggerhead and olive ridley turtles are listed as endangered and the flatback, green, hawksbill and leatherback are listed as vulnerable.

The draft recovery plan addresses the statutory requirements of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. It identifies targeted actions that will assist the recovery of the species. The draft plan is supported by a non-statutory, peer reviewed issues paper, which is still in preparation. The draft issues paper describes the biology, threats and conservation status of the species.

This draft Recovery Plan will be available for public comment for a period of three months, which will close on 21 March 2006. At the end of this period the plan will be revised, taking into consideration any comments received.

Comments must be received by close of business 21 March 2006 and sent to:

Director, Migratory and Marine Species Section
Department of the Environment and Heritage
GPO Box 787
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Email: recoveryplans@environment.gov.au
Fax: (02) 6274 2455

Download the document

These documents are available as PDF files. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view the PDF file.

If you cannot access these documents, please contact us to organise a suitable alternative format.

Before you download

Some documents are available as PDF files. You will need a PDF reader to view PDF files.
List of PDF readers 

If you are unable to access a publication, please contact us to organise a suitable alternative format.

Key

   Links to another web site
   Opens a pop-up window