Flatback Turtle
Mysterious and majestic, flatback turtle (Natator depressus) are the only sea turtle to nest exclusively on Australian shores.
The iconic but vulnerable species is threatened by commercial fishing, coastal development, pollution and climate change.
A rugged island is the heart of our marine turtle conservation projects – attracting everyone from scientists to students to make a truly extraordinary difference.
Make your impact
- Own and manage Avoid Island, a permanent nature refuge in the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park.
- Provide nesting habitat for around 25-30% of the eastern Queensland flatback turtle population on Australia’s only privately-owned island dedicated to protecting the species.
- Partner with scientists, universities, school expeditions and eco-volunteers to safeguard precious turtle hatchlings on safe, and clean beaches.
- Spearhead and collaborate on research programs to ensure the long-term survival of our iconic and precious marine turtles.
- Collaborate and create a two-way threatened species management plan with Koinmerburra Aboriginal Corporation.
- The island provides nesting habitat for around 25-30% of the eastern Queensland flatback turtle population.
- Avoid Island flatback turtles lay close to 10,000 eggs each nesting season, with an 80 to 90% hatching success rate thanks to the protected environment.
- After nine seasons, researchers have tagged most turtles that return every year to nest, with new females arriving every year.
- Over three years, a dedicated weed management program has reduced the area of turtle nesting beach invaded by Mossman River grass (Cenchrus echinatus) by 99% and removed close to 200kg of marine debris that littered nesting beaches.
- QTFN awareness raising and campaigning contributed to the conservation of the other largest rookery in the southern population, our neighbouring island of Wild Duck.
Our work
- Own and manage Avoid Island, a permanent nature refuge in the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park.
- Provide nesting habitat for around 25-30% of the eastern Queensland flatback turtle population on Australia’s only privately-owned island dedicated to protecting the species.
- Partner with scientists, universities, school expeditions and eco-volunteers to safeguard precious turtle hatchlings on safe, and clean beaches.
- Spearhead and collaborate on research programs to ensure the long-term survival of our iconic and precious marine turtles.
- Collaborate and create a two-way threatened species management plan with Koinmerburra Aboriginal Corporation.
Our impact
- The island provides nesting habitat for around 25-30% of the eastern Queensland flatback turtle population.
- Avoid Island flatback turtles lay close to 10,000 eggs each nesting season, with an 80 to 90% hatching success rate thanks to the protected environment.
- After nine seasons, researchers have tagged most turtles that return every year to nest, with new females arriving every year.
- Over three years, a dedicated weed management program has reduced the area of turtle nesting beach invaded by Mossman River grass (Cenchrus echinatus) by 99% and removed close to 200kg of marine debris that littered nesting beaches.
- QTFN awareness raising and campaigning contributed to the conservation of the other largest rookery in the southern population, our neighbouring island of Wild Duck.