Cape York Turtle Conservation Program

The Cape York Turtle Conservation Program been in operation since 2006 and continues to deliver significant on-ground recovery actions for sea turtles on Cape York.

The project, managed in-house by CYSF works with the partner Indigenous communities to develop local sea turtle conservation initiatives and pest management programs that are based upon clear, well-defined objectives. It draws together the use of traditional ecological knowledge, local knowledge and western science to deliver local management strategies.

The project was redesigned in 2008 and is constantly reviewed internally and with support from DERM's QTC staff. Methodologies within the monitoring program are constantly being refined to ensure realistic outcomes and quantifiable results. Input into the monitoring methodologies has been provided by experts in the fields of pest animal control and sea turtle conservation. Project staff are working with DERM's Queensland Turtle Conservation Project staff to ensure consistency with data collection. Methodologies utilised are best practice standard and adapted from DERM's survey method.