06 July 2009
Weipa, QLD—A satellite tracker fitted to a rehabilitated
turtle released back into the Gulf of Carpentaria last week will
provide valuable information to support the conservation of these
majestic marine animals.
A partnership between Indigenous rangers and researchers is
leading the way in understanding how marine turtles injured by
marine debris can be successfully rehabilitated and released.
A severely injured Olive Ridley turtle, estimated to be about 10
to 12 years old, was one of eleven turtles found by Napranum
Aboriginal Shire Rangers Peter Harper and Angela Christie entangled
in discarded fishing nets on Pennefather Beach near Weipa, Cape
York during the 2008/2009 wet season.
The turtle, named Jewell by the Rangers, suffered injuries so
extensive that she, together with another critically injured
turtle, were evacuated to Cairns by Qantaslink for intensive
rehabilitation.
The remaining 9 turtles were treated on site in a makeshift
triage by the Rangers. Treatment included cleaning wounds and hand
feeding the animals live squid until they were strong enough to be
released.
“When Jewell first arrived from Pennefather, her injuries
were extensive,” said marine biologist Jennie Gilbert of the
Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.
“The top of her head had no skin, the right flipper had
two broken bones while the left front flipper was cut to the bone
and was believed to have needed amputation,” said Ms
Gilbert.
After an intensive five and a half months of treatment under the
guidance and support of Marlin Coast Vet Clinic, Jewell made a
remarkable recovery and both flippers were saved.
Jewell returned to Pennefather Beach on Thursday July 2 for
release into the Gulf of Carpentaria by Peter Harper and Angela
Christie—the same rangers who had rescued her some 6 months
earlier—following a traditional ceremony attended by the
Indigenous owners of the area.
With the aid of a satellite tracker, supplied and fitted by
Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation Rangers from the Northern
Territory, researchers and Indigenous rangers will monitor the
success of Jewell’s recovery and release. Jewell will need to
survive another 20 years before she will be mature enough to
breed.
Discarded fishing nets, also know as ‘ghost nets’
are a common problem in the Gulf of Carpentaria and pose a real
threat to marine life.
“This has been a great joint effort on a valuable
project,” said Carpentaria Ghost Net Programme (CGNP)
Coordinator Riki Gunn.
The CGNP coordinates the activities of 17 Indigenous Ranger
groups in the Gulf of Carpentaria to remove and catalogue ghost
nets and rescue any animals found entangled in them.
“The entanglement of marine turtles and other animals in
ghost nets is a major threat to our marine wildlife populations in
the Gulf of Carpentaria,” Ms Gunn said.
Due to the nature of the ocean currents off Australia’s
northern coastline and the fact that the Gulf of Carpentaria is
almost landlocked, thousands of tonnes worth of discarded fishing
nets and other marine rubbish flow from Asia into the Gulf each
year. The marine debris gets trapped in the water currents, posing
incredible danger to turtles and other marine life.
“The problem is so severe, that in one three-week period
in March last year, on the same 42km beach at Pennefather,
the Rangers found 63 turtles – either maimed or killed after
getting entangled in ghost nets,” Ms Gunn said.
The CGNP, together with the North Australian Indigenous Land and
Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA), have built partnerships that
link Indigenous communities across north Australia to look after
marine habitats, protect wildlife and develop long-term coastal
management plans.
Joe Morrison, CEO NAILSMA said the collaboration between the
Napranum and Dhimurru Rangers is a great example of the benefits of
Indigenous people working together across the migratory range of
marine turtles.
“Indigenous people have long held responsibilities for
managing marine turtles and are working together across Australia
to ensure the sustainable management of these iconic species.
“Their work not only benefits marine turtle conservation
but is helping to protect internationally important ecosystems for
all Australians.
“Partnerships with the Australian Government that support
Indigenous Ranger program operations are vital to the conservation
and management of Australia’s northern coasts and
oceans,” said Mr Morrison.
WWF-Australia‘s Conservation on Country Policy Manager
Cliff Cobbo travelled to Pennefather to witness the event.
“We were here to support the exceptional work these local
organisations are doing to protect Australia’s marine life
and shores,” Mr Cobbo said.
“We encourage government, local communities and industry
to implement measures to ensure all threats to marine turtles -
from incidental capture in fishing gear to entanglement in marine
debris – are significantly minimised.”
The Carpentaria Ghost Net Programme and the NAILSMA Dugong and
Marine Turtle Project are supported through funding from the
Australian Government’s Caring for our Country.
– ### –
For more information:
Riki Gunn, CGNP Project Co-ordinator: (07) 4745 9661 / 0427 476
500
Jennifer Gilbert, Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre: 0417 441
956
Joe Morrison, CEO NAILSMA, (08) 89467691
Nikki Todd, WWF-Australia Media Officer: 0408 011 204
Note to editors:
HD footage shot by a production crew accompanying the turtle will
be pooled to all TV stations upon their return on Monday next week
(July 6). Stills may also be available (for print press). Contact
Riki Gunn, CGNP Project Co-ordinator: (07) 4745 9661 / 0427 476 500
for more information.
About the Napranum Aboriginal Shire Rangers
The Pennefather Beach is a significant site for nesting turtles in
Cape York but unfortunately is in proximity of the township of
Weipa. Apart from their Ghost Net work, the rangers are performing
a vital conservation role by mitigating the impact of predation by
feral pigs on turtles nests, controlling visitor numbers,
especially access by 4WD vehicles and re-vegetating the landscape
to conserve biodiversity.
About the Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation Rangers
Dhimurru is an incorporated Aboriginal organisation established by
Yolngu land-owners in Northeast Arnhem Land, Australia. The office
is located in Nhulunbuy.
Yolngu (Aboriginal people of Northeast Arnhem Land) are the
traditional owners of lands consisting of approximately 101,000ha.
The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act of 1976
recognises Yolngu as the owners of this land under Australian law.
Dhimurru has jurisdiction over approximately 8,500km2 of this
land.
Since time immemorial Yolngu have managed the natural and
cultural resources and have achieved a balance that ensured long
term, sustainable resource use for the economic and social
well-being of the landowners.
The permanent presence of a large non-Yolngu population in
recent times required a new response. On April 8, 1992, after
extensive consultations Dhimurru Land Management Aboriginal
Corporation was formally incorporated under the Aboriginal Councils
and Associations Act 1976 on September 8, 1992.
Website: www.dhimurru.com.au
About Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre
The Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre works hard to help sick and
injured marine turtles become well enough to return to their home,
the Great Barrier Reef. Sometimes this can take as long as 10
months and cost as much as $4000 per turtle. The Turtle
Rehabilitation Centre relies on the generosity of volunteers and
donations from the public and local businesses.
About Carpentaria Ghost Nets Programme (CGNP)
CGNP looks at ways to rid the Gulf of Carpentaria from marine
debris, in particular foreign fishing nets, to protect local marine
life. To date the Project has removed and catalogued over 5,300
nets which are enough to cover Sydney Harbour Bridge more than 100
times. The Programme has successfully won several awards and was
mostly recently was highly commended by the Society for Ecological
Restoration International. The programme was awarded $2.8M from the
AG this week.
Website: www.ghostnets.com.au
About North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management
Alliance (NAILSMA)
The North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance
(NAILSMA) is an alliance between Kimberley Land Council, Northern
Land Council, Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation and
Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation.
NAILSMA supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land and
sea management using strategic approaches to care for country with
an emphasis on practical management by Traditional Owners across
north Australia. This support is delivered in part through our
programs and projects:
Leadership, Communication and Scholarships Indigenous Water
policy group Indigenous Community Water Facilitator Network Carbon
Program Integrating Research and Indigenous land Management Dugong
and Marine Turtle Project Enterprise Development Indigenous
Knowledge (IK) Strategy
Website: www.nailsma.org.au
