Action plan gives new hope to endangered species

The Sunshine Coast Marine Turtle Conservation Plan was adopted by Council in August 2023.

It includes extensive input from the region’s turtle champions and outlines Council’s plan for the recovery of marine turtle populations on the Sunshine Coast.

A strong partnership across the region led to the plan’s development with Sunshine Coast Council, councillors, Kabi Kabi First Nation Peoples, Queensland Government, an independent Technical Advisory Panel and community leaders of TurtleCare, Coolum and North Shore Coast Care and Bribie Island Turtle Trackers volunteers all collaborating on the plan.

It supports efforts by the Queensland and Australian governments to stop the decline of marine turtle populations and will guide Council decision making to achieve future conservation and management goals for nesting marine turtles and hatchlings within the Sunshine Coast Local Government Area.

It is particularly focused on the nesting and hatchling success of the critically endangered loggerhead and vulnerable green turtle populations—the two species that arrive every year to lay their eggs on our Sunshine Coast beaches.

Its goal is to support the recovery of self-sustaining populations of marine turtles on the Sunshine Coast by reducing threats, improving habitat quality and strengthening community-based management.

View the plan here.