New South WalesNew South Wales

New South Wales

Within New South Wales all marine turtles are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. In addition, the loggerhead turtle is listed as endangered and green and leatherback turtles are listed as vulnerable under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. Nominations have also been made to list the hawksbill and flatback turtles as threatened under this Act. There are resident groups of hawksbill, loggerhead and green turtles in the waters of northern New South Wales. Regular reports of green turtles in Jervis Bay and in some other more southerly estuaries suggest that some individuals may make regular visits to these southern locations. Resident populations appear to have established in some other estuaries particularly near warm water outfalls. A study is underway in Lake Macquarie on the New South Wales Central Coast to assess the apparently resident populations of several turtle species in the vicinity of warm water outfalls from a power generation facility. A number of loggerhead and flatback turtle strandings have also been reported in the states.

The New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has developed the Marine Fauna Management Database that will enable collection of information on dead, sick or injured turtles found along the New South Wales coast. The New South Wales data will complement the database maintained by Queensland and facilitate information exchange. The New South Wales NPWS has also established a tagging program in New South Wales which enables the collection of information on marine turtles rehabilitated and released following stranding. In addition, guidelines for the rescue, rehabilitation and release of marine turtles have been prepared.