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Green turtles are found in tropical and subtropical areas of the Indo-Pacific region, including Australia. In Australia, there are seven regional populations of green turtles that nest in different areas, including the southern Great Barrier Reef, the northern Great Barrier Reef, the Coral Sea, the Gulf of Carpentaria, Western Australia's north-west shelf, the Ashmore and Cartier Reefs, and Scott Reef. Green turtles are known to feed on seagrass and algae and nest on protected shores and islands near the coast.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Locations in Australia | The southern Great Barrier Reef, the northern Great Barrier Reef, the Coral Sea, the Gulf of Carpentaria, Western Australia's north-west shelf, the Ashmore and Cartier Reefs, Scott Reef, Moreton Bay in southern Queensland, Shark Bay in Western Australia, and Sydney waters |
| Locations outside Australia | Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia |
| Number of regional populations in Australia | 7 |
| Largest rookery | Raine Island, in the northern Great Barrier Reef |
| Number of female green turtles that congregate on Raine Island each nesting season | 60,000 |
| Number of eggs laid by each female | 100 |
| Number of species in Australia | 3 |
| Number of species in the world | 7 |
| Number of species in Australian waters | 6 |
| Number of species supported by Bush Heritage Australia | 4 |
| Status | Vulnerable, Endangered |
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What You'll Learn
Green turtles in the Great Barrier Reef
The Green Turtle is a rare icon of the Great Barrier Reef. It is the most recognisable of all marine turtles and is widely distributed throughout the world's tropical and subtropical waters. The Green Turtle is the only species in the genus Chelonia and gets its name from the green fat found beneath its carapace, not the colour of its shell.
In the wild, Green Turtles can be distinguished from the Hawksbill by their rounded snouts. They feed on seagrass and algae, and their jaws develop serrations to help them chew their food. They are also excellent navigators, using sunlight and temperature to determine direction. They have remarkable longevity, living to around 100 years.
The Great Barrier Reef is an important feeding area for Green Turtles, which nest locally and in other areas. In December 2019, researchers working with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation's Raine Island Recovery Project captured drone footage of around 64,000 Green Turtles migrating to Raine Island, located on the outer edges of the Great Barrier Reef, to nest. Raine Island is the world's largest rookery for Green Turtles, with an annual nesting population of tens of thousands of females.
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Green turtles in Western Australia
Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) are found in tropical and subtropical waters across the world, including in Australia. They are the most recognisable of all marine turtles and are widely distributed. In Australia, there are seven regional populations of green turtles that nest in different areas. One of these areas is Western Australia's north-west shelf.
Green turtles nesting along the Western Australian coast migrate from feeding grounds in Indonesia, Queensland, the Northern Territory, and as far south as Shark Bay in Western Australia. Shark Bay is probably the southernmost major foraging area for turtles from the north-west shelf population of green turtles in Western Australia. The north-west shelf has widely spread nesting sites from the Ningaloo coast to the Lacepede Islands. Major nesting sites include the Lacepede Islands, Browse Island, North West Cape, Barrow Island, and the Montebello Islands. Nesting activity occurs between November and March but may occur all year round in the more northern sites.
The entire Great Barrier Reef area is an important feeding area for green turtles that nest locally and for those that nest in other areas. Green turtles are the only herbivorous marine turtles, feeding almost exclusively on seagrass and algae. Turtle grazing helps maintain the seagrass beds and keep them productive. Turtles recycle nutrients, making them available to many other animals and plants. Healthy seagrass beds ultimately mean healthy nurseries for invertebrates and fish, some of which are of commercial value and are important to human food security.
Green turtles are among the world's great travellers, with female green turtles travelling more than 2,600 kilometres between feeding grounds and nesting beaches. They migrate long distances, with females returning to the same beach on which they were hatched to lay their eggs. In Australia, green turtles are found from Shark Bay in Western Australia, around the northern Australian coast, throughout the Great Barrier Reef, and as far south as Moreton Bay in southern Queensland.
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Green turtles in Queensland
Green turtles, or Chelonia mydas, are found in Queensland, Australia. They are one of the six or seven species of marine turtles that occur in Australian waters. Marine turtles have existed on Earth for over 100 million years and are an integral part of tropical coastal ecosystems. However, human activities have threatened their survival in just 200 years.
In Queensland, green turtles can be found in coastal waters, seagrass pastures, coral reefs, and subtropical areas. They are known for their smooth, heart-shaped shell and paddle-like flippers, with a greenish tinge to their body fat. Green turtles are herbivores, feeding on seagrass, algae, seaweed, and mangrove fruits. They play an important role in maintaining the health of seagrass beds by grazing and recycling nutrients, which benefits other animals and plants.
Queensland is home to three distinct genetic stocks of green turtles that breed in the region. They have major rookeries in the southern Great Barrier Reef, with 13 important nesting sites, including North West, Wreck, Hoskyn, and Heron Islands. The northern Great Barrier Reef also has five significant rookeries, including Raine Island, which is the world's largest green turtle rookery. Nesting in the southern Great Barrier Reef typically occurs between late November and January, while turtles in the Gulf of Carpentaria nest all year round.
Green turtle populations in Queensland face various threats, including climate change, marine debris entanglement, unsustainable hunting, light pollution, and habitat modification due to coastal development. These challenges have led to a decline in their breeding success. Conservation efforts, such as the Queensland Marine Turtle Conservation Strategy 2021-2031, are in place to protect these ancient mariners and ensure their survival for future generations.
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Green turtles in the Gulf of Carpentaria
Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) are found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide, including in Australia. In Australia, there are seven regional populations of green turtles that nest in different areas, one of which is the Gulf of Carpentaria.
The Gulf of Carpentaria, located in the northern region of Australia, is a significant habitat for green turtles. The Gulf is known for its extensive seaweed-rich coral reefs and inshore seagrass pastures, providing an ideal environment for these turtles to feed and nest. The Sir Edward Pellew (SEP) Islands, situated within the Gulf, are a crucial foraging ground for adult green turtles. The SEP Islands are located at the mouths of the Wearyan and McArthur Rivers, which drain the Barkly Tablelands region of the Northern Territory. The area is predominantly rural, with cattle grazing as the primary industry.
The Gulf of Carpentaria has two main nesting areas: the Wellesley Island Group and the Eastern Arnhem Land, Groote Eylandt, and Sir Edward Pellew Islands area. The Wellesley Island Group includes major rookeries at Bountiful, Pisonia, and Rocky Islands. Nesting in this region occurs year-round, with a mid-year peak. The Eastern Arnhem Land region, including Groote Eylandt and the Sir Edward Pellew Islands, also supports significant nesting activity.
Indigenous Australians have traditional rights and responsibilities for marine turtle management across much of the northern Australian coast, including the Gulf of Carpentaria. To better understand the migration patterns of green turtles in this region, researchers have employed satellite telemetry to track their movements. Interestingly, the tracked turtles remained within the Gulf of Carpentaria, suggesting that the adult foraging habitat for this nesting population may be largely confined to the Gulf.
The green turtles in the Gulf of Carpentaria face various challenges, including potential health concerns. While biochemical analysis of blood glucose and magnesium levels indicated general good health, these levels were lower than those observed in other studies of clinically healthy green turtles. Continued surveys and data collection are necessary to fully understand the health and demographic structure of this green turtle population.
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Green turtles in the Coral Sea
The green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is a species of large sea turtle found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. In Australia, one of the largest nesting populations of green turtles in the world is found in the Coral Sea. The Coral Sea Marine Park provides a habitat for six of the world's seven sea turtle species, including the green turtle.
Green turtles are herbivores, feeding on seaweed, seagrass, and algae. They play an essential role in maintaining the health of seagrass beds, which provide habitat and feeding grounds for many species of fish and crustaceans. The Coral Sea, with its coral reefs and seagrass beds, provides an ideal habitat for these turtles.
Female green turtles return to the same beach where they hatched to lay their eggs. The sandy cays of the Coral Sea Marine Park are nesting sites for large numbers of green turtles, which arrive between October and April each year. Outside these months, their presence is still evident from the large dug-out nests and tracks they leave behind.
The green turtles that nest in the Coral Sea have been known to migrate long distances of up to 3,880 kilometres, the longest known migration through the Coral Sea. This migration takes them to feeding grounds in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and across northern Australia.
The green turtle is classified as endangered, facing threats such as overharvesting of eggs, hunting of adults, bycatch in fishing gear, loss of nesting beach sites, and pollution. Conservation efforts by organisations such as WWF aim to protect and recover green turtle populations in the Coral Sea and worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
Green sea turtles can be found in the coastal waters, seagrass, oceans and coral reefs of Australia. They are found in the tropical and subtropical areas of the Indo-Pacific region. In Australia, there are seven regional populations of green turtles that nest in different areas; the southern Great Barrier Reef, the northern Great Barrier Reef, the Coral Sea, the Gulf of Carpentaria, Western Australia's north-west shelf, the Ashmore and Cartier Reefs and Scott Reef.
Adult green turtles are herbivores and feed on seagrasses and algae, although immature turtles are carnivorous.
Female green sea turtles breed every 2 to 5 years.
