Marine wildlife stranding annual reports

The department maintains StrandNet, a database of marine wildlife strandings and deaths.

The primary focus of this database is to record information on where sick, injured, dying and dead marine cetaceans (whales and dolphins), pinnipeds (seal and sea lions), dugong and turtles have been found in Queensland and assess causes of injury and death, if possible. Incidental information on sharks, rays, seabirds and other marine animals are also recorded.

Data collected and collated in the strandings database is summarised in annual reports produced by departmental staff.

Most reports of individual strandings are supplied by staff of the department and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Some of these reports come in via RSPCA’s hotline. Other reports come from rescue organisations such as Sea World, Underwater World as well as the general public. The database also contains mortality records from the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries shark control program.

StrandNet indicates when marine animal deaths occur directly as a result of human causes, for example through boat strikes, so it plays a role in raising community awareness about how these type of incidents caused by humans can be prevented. The ‘go-slow’ areas in Moreton Bay and dugong protection areas along the eastern Queensland coastline are two changes that were introduced to reduce boat strikes and netting as sources of injury and mortality. These measures were introduced as a direct result of the data recorded in StrandNet.

Whales, dolphins, seals and sea-lions

For reports from previous years see availability.

Dugong

For reports from previous years see availability.

Marine turtles

  • Marine turtles 2011 (see availability)
  • Marine turtles 2005–10
  • Marine turtles 2004
  • Marine turtles 2003
  • Marine turtles 2001–02
  • Marine turtles 2000
  • Marine turtles 1999

For reports from previous years see availability.

Available from the library catalogue

The documents referred to on this page are available from the department’s online library catalogue.