Summer holidays in Port Stephens is a dangerous time for the turtle population. Crab traps and speeding boats are a significant risk to the life of a turtle and these risks peak over Christmas and at Easter. Ingesting plastic waste is also a risk no matter the season..
If you find an injured or dead turtle, can you please photograph it and send the details (location, date, size of the turtle, injuries and so on) to the Irukandji and Sea Shelter at team@seashelter.org or phone (02) 4982 2476. They will come and get a sick turtle or report a dead turtle to National Parks. Trying to report direct to National Parks is a lesson in patience- it is easier to let the Sea Shelter do it.
Both Nigel and myself have found several dead turtles over the years. The latest find was on 1 February near Bulga Creek and it looked like the turtle had been caught and drowned in a crab trap.
