Moreton Bay is the home of four species of Turtle; the Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas, and Loggerhead Turtle, Caretta caretta, are common in Moreton Bay, while the Leatherback, Dermochelys coriacea, and Hawksbill Turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, are less common. The Loggerhead and Leatherback are listed as Endangered while the Green and Hawksbill are listed as Vulnerable. The origin of these marine reptiles dates back into prehistoric times, with records showing turtles being around for over 195 million years.
Unfortunately, these gentle creatures of the sea are under serious threat of extinction. The breeding population of the Loggerhead Turtle in Australian waters has crashed. Dr Col Limpus, world-renowned turtle expert, has been working hard to establish the cause of their rapid decline and to determine the conservation management practices required, to address the problem.
However, one simple thing you can do is, remember, when on the Bay, obey the go slow zones. Many of the turtle deaths in the Bay are due to boat strikes. Bay users have a big part to play in protecting the turtles from extinction.