Video: Protecting Turtles from California to Australia

Teri Shore, the program director of the Turtle Island Restoration Network visited Australia early in 2010, to connect with other environmental non-profit organizations and educate us on the status of sea turtles worldwide. Ms. Shore highlighted the need for action - to ensure Australia's endemic Flatback turtle (Natator depressus) is recognized world-wide as a vulnerable or endangered species. At present its status as “data deficient” is preventing it from receiving the protection it deserves.

Check out the Video of Teri by the Wilderness Society WA in Feb, 2010:

Urgent Protection Needed

Ms Shore made it very clear that all seven species of sea turtles need urgent help to protect them from threats such as marine pollution, climate change and habitat degradation.

"Leatherback turtle nests have declined over 90% in the last 20 years in key nesting locations. These magnificent creatures grow up to 9 foot. As they cross the ocean to reach their feeding grounds from their breeding grounds, they have to eat their weight each day in Jelly-fish.  Their decline is a global problem that we have to combat. We need to act together" said Teri.

The Australian Flatback

This species is the only marine turtle that nests exclusively in Australian Territory and has many differences to other sea turtles. This species dives deeper and longer than other sea turtles. Also, rather than nesting under the protection of night-time, Flatbacks are quite often seen on the beach during the day, where they lay fewer, larger eggs. Flatback juveniles spend most of their first 10-20 years of life in relatively near shore waters, instead of disappearing in the ocean as does other young sea turtles.

The Flatback's life history makes it one of the most vulnerable species of sea turtle alive today. Yet without international recognition (through listing as a threatened or endangered species) Flatbacks will continue to decline without recognition. Their proper protective measures could come too late.

We need to stop degrading their habitat and create large marine sanctuaries in their habitat zone, so this species is not lost forever.

What can you do?

•    Email The Premier of Western Australia Colin Barnett, and tell him to find alternatives for gas hub planned at James Price Point. The site is a critical habitat and nesting area for our endemic Flatbacks, that feed close to the coastline and return to the beach they were born on to lay their eggs!

 •    Please sign this e-postcard and tell the Chief Minister Paul Henderson (Northern Territory) to establish a network of large marine sanctuaries to help save our turtles.