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01 Mar 2012

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Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance (WCTTAA)

Project summary

The Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance (WCTTAA) is a partnership of land and sea owners and managers from the Northern Peninsula Area, Mapoon, Napranum, Pormpuraaw, Aurukun and Kowanyama who work together for the protection of marine turtles along the west coast of Cape York.

WCTTAA was formally established in 2013, driven by the communities’ desire to improve conservation outcomes for threatened turtle species.

Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance

The alliance was formally established in May 2013 following 12 months of regional discussions for the future of turtle management on Cape York. Land and Sea Managers recognised that local coordination led to effective outcomes for turtle conservation and would be further enhanced by regional coordination.

WCTTAA’s vision is “to seek to efficiently manage threats to coastal habitats and enhance opportunities for nesting marine turtle populations of the Western Cape”. The mission of WCTTAA states they are “a partnership of on-ground land and sea owners and managers, formed to set priorities, seek solutions and share knowledge to maximise the use of resources for coastal management on Western Cape York.”

They will do this by directing funding into priority areas; undertaking regional coordination of marine turtle work programs; training; data collection and analysis; and recognition and utilisation of local expertise.

Each of the Land and Sea Programs is already stretched to capacity, and a full-time Coordinator was employed in March 2014 with funding support from Cape York NRM and Ghost Nets Australia. This position is hosted through Cape York NRM.

WCTTAA takes a truly bottom-up approach to threat abatement through the coordination of on-ground works, and sharing of resources. Aboriginal Councils and Land Trusts support and direct decision-making of WCTTAA with work implemented by Ranger Groups. Resources are distributed where they are needed, through the agreement of the WCTTAA membership. WCTTAA members have strategic representation on the Turtle and Dugong Taskforce and the group’s direction is in line with Queensland indigenous sea country policy.

  • Background

    Western Cape York beaches are important nesting sites for marine turtles, particularly the flatback turtle (Natator depressus) and olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea).

    All marine turtles are listed as threatened species. The greatest danger to turtle nests in western Cape York is from feral pigs, wild dogs and goannas which attack the nest eggs. When the project began most nests were being lost to pig activity but over the years predator management has reduced this loss to 30% or less. In 2021, the average loss was reduced to just 10%.

  • Project activities

    WCTTAA seeks to continue to manage threats to coastal habitats and enhance opportunities for nesting marine turtle populations of the western Cape, by undertaking regional coordination of marine turtle work programs, delivering projects in priority areas, data collection and analysis, feral animal control, providing training to build capacity in local communities, recognition and utilisation of local expertise and promotion of the work that the alliance is doing.

Contact the Coordinator at wcttaa@capeyorknrm.com.au or phone Cape York NRM on 1300 132 262.

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