Learn how to help stranded turtles with online tutor

Online training is now available for those who want to help marine turtles stranded on the Great Barrier Reef coastline.

The training package for volunteers has been developed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA).

Minister for Environment and Heritage, National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef Dr Steven Miles said volunteers were currently responding to around 60 percent of marine animal strandings along the Great Barrier Reef coastline, and the online training was expected to increase this response rate.

“Marine turtles are the most common animals to strand on our coast each year,” Dr Miles said. “Numbers over recent years have varied between about 900 and 1800 per year.

"Reasons for stranding include disease, starvation, boat strike, entanglement, predation, and ingestion of marine debris.

“Stranding response volunteers are all ages and from all walks of life. They do an amazing job, taking sick and injured turtles to Queensland’s turtle rehabilitation centres. Most turtles that recover are eventually released back to the wild.

“Our volunteers and rehab centres need plenty more people to help them with this important task,” he said.

Dr Miles said the Queensland Government managed the marine wildlife strandings and mortality program, which reports on the distribution, frequency and cause of mortality for marine animals, to help improve their protection and management.

“Partnerships with volunteers, community groups and Traditional Owners are vital in this process. Volunteers who do the online course will be able to help individual animals and also contribute to collection of data,” Dr Miles said.

“Data collection is a critical role. Information about the location and cause of marine animal strandings has helped to introduce protection measures in Queensland including dugong protection areas, and ‘go slow’ areas in Moreton Bay.

“The online training also shows volunteers how to collect data from stranding incidents to inform management decisions that work to protect marine turtles in the Great Barrier Reef,” he said.

For more information about online training please visit https://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/wildlife/caring-for-wildlife/marine_strandings.html

Marine animal strandings can be reported through the RSPCA Hotline 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625) or through the GBRMPA Eye on the Reef app.

ENDS

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