What you can do

If you see a marine animal stranding (of sick, injured or dead turtles, dolphins, dugongs, seals or whales), report it to by using the free QWildlife app for iOS and Android, or call 1300 130 372 (Press option 1). A Queensland Government officer or trained strandings responder in the relevant region will be contacted with the details of your sighting and will determine the appropriate response.

To assist in determining an appropriate response, the following information is required when reporting a stranding:

• location (GPS coordinates if possible)
• a description of what is wrong with the animal (e.g. stranded on beach, injuries, entangled in a net, injured)
• a description of the animal (type of animal—dugong, turtle, whale, dolphin; condition; size and any identifying tags)
• photos (if available)
• your contact details (optional).

For the safety of yourself and the animal, keep your distance.

Take care of your own health and safety while waiting for experts to arrive. Do not approach, touch or interfere with a stranded animal as this may cause additional stress or injury. Stranded marine animals may carry zoonotic diseases (transferable by air or by contact either directly or with bodily fluids). Minimise your exposure by maintaining your distance from the animal and avoid inhaling vapours expelled by the animal.

Keep quiet, calm and ensure that dogs, small children and other bystanders are kept away if you’ve found a beached marine mammal.

Under the advice of marine mammal veterinarians, the department may attempt to return the beached animal to the water, in which case, you should follow all directions from departmental staff. The department and their response partners are trained in the management of stranding situations and will provide direction in the best interests of your personal safety and the welfare on the stranded animal.

Commercial fishers

Commercial fishers are legally obligated to report any turtle or dugong deaths resulting from their fishing activities as soon as practically possible.

What the commercial fishing industry can do

Adopt best practice net principles including

• Shorter net soak times
• Higher net inspection regimes
• Avoid netting near known turtle aggregation areas
• Report any marine animal interactions.

Recreational fishers

Fishers and boaties can do their part to help marine animals by following the simple steps outlined below:

• Go slow for those below—avoid shallow seagrass areas. If you cannot avoid seagrass areas, reduce speed to below 10 knots (off the plane) and take extra care.
• Look out for turtles and dugong—animals are move around to find seagrass to feed on and may appear in areas where they have not been seen before.
• Take care when fishing—don’t leave behind discarded fishing lines and use non-stainless steel hooks.
• Know your marine parks zones and designated areas —know where you need to go slow and stick to recommended regulations in other areas.
• Be seagrass savvy—be careful not to damage seagrass by careless anchoring or operating of a vessel in shallow water where boat wash or propeller damage can occur.
• Be a considerate crabber—check crab pots regularly. Set your pots to avoid loose rope floating about in the water and ensure your pot entrances are not large enough to trap a turtle. Familiarise yourself with the guidelines on how to make a new crab pot, or learn how to correctly modify an existing one.
• Report collisions with marine wildlife—as a recreational vessel user, you have a responsibility to report accidental interactions with protected marine wildlife (marine mammals and turtles). Notify the department on 1300 130 372 if you observe, or your vessel is involved in a collision with marine wildlife.

Resources

• Licensing, catch reporting and enforcement
• Responsible crabbing
• Recreational fishing-rules, regulations and tips
• About zoning and designated areas

Traditional owners

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have long, continuing relationships with the marine environment and its natural resources and have developed strong social, cultural, economic and spiritual connections to land and sea country. Many marine animals have totemic significance and are an important part of cultural identity and significant in song, dance and music and on cultural implements.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have been actively involved in managing and protecting their sea country and its marine life for many years. The department works in partnership with Land and Sea ranger organisations and traditional owners in the management of marine animal strandings.

Under the Native Title legislation Indigenous Queenslanders are able to hunt dugongs and turtles—practices they have been undertaking for thousands of years and form a vital part of their cultural and spiritual connection with the land and sea.

Community involvement

The department is assisted in the response to marine turtle strandings by a network of community volunteer organisations and permitted rehabilitation centres.

Become a strandings response volunteer by completing our free online training package which enables local community volunteers to respond to marine turtle strandings.

The training package includes eight modules that can be done at the user’s own pace. It is comprised of interactive presentations that include videos, audio, graphics and reading, across a series of learning modules.

Email GBRR-Strandings@des.qld.gov.au to request access to the training.