NESP Marine and Coastal Hub (2026). Cumulative spatial risk assessments for Australia’s marine turtles – North-west Kimberley. Project 6.1 Information sheet. Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, Cairns, Queensland.
Overview
The north-west Kimberley coast supports six of the world’s seven marine turtle species. Green (Chelonia mydas) and flatback turtles (Natator depressus) are both listed as Vulnerable under the EPBC Act 1999, and nest widely in this region. These turtle species are culturally significant to Traditional Owners across the region, known as Juluwarru (green) and Mardumal (flatback) in local language.
Flatback turtles are endemic, only found nesting in northern regions of Australia. Despite their ecological and cultural significance, there remain important gaps in current knowledge on where turtles nest, habitat use, nesting densities, seasonal nesting differences between species and how climate change may affect turtle nests. This project, led by the Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation (WGAC), directly addresses these gaps by analysing an extensive dataset of aerial imagery of the Uunguu Indigenous Protected Area (IPA), which encompasses over 15,000 km² of Sea Country.
Without accurate spatial data on key nesting sites, habitat use and threats, it is difficult to plan protection, identify climate refuges or guide management across this remote coastline. There is also a need to ensure Traditional Owner knowledge and priorities drive conservation planning on Sea Country.
