The discovery of the first sea turtle nest of the breeding season on the New South Wales north coast has triggered a vital rescue mission and launched a major public campaign to safeguard the state's threatened marine reptiles.
Community Vigilance Key to Nest Survival
Conservation group TurtleWatch NSW is issuing a call to action, asking beachgoers and coastal residents to act as citizen scientists. The appeal stretches along the coastline from the Tweed in the north down to Batemans Bay. Volunteers are asked to walk their local beaches early in the morning, scanning the high tide line for the distinctive tracks of nesting females, which are typically made under cover of darkness.
Merryn Dunleavy of TurtleWatch NSW emphasised that every reported nest will be actively protected. "The commitment and care from our coastal communities will be essential in ensuring these nests can survive," Dunleavy stated. The recent first nest discovery required immediate intervention, as it was perilously close to the water's edge. Trained and licensed staff successfully relocated the eggs to a safer location using cooler-box incubators, a method proven effective last season.
Cyclone Damage and a Record Rescue Effort
The need for public vigilance is particularly acute this season due to significant habitat loss. Earlier in 2025, ex-tropical cyclone Alfred dramatically reshaped large stretches of the northern NSW coast. Many beaches lost their gently sloping sandy shores, with dunes cut back several metres to create steep drop-offs that nesting turtles cannot climb.
This environmental damage underscores the success of a pre-emptive rescue operation in February. Ahead of the cyclone, the vigilance of the turtle team allowed National Parks and Wildlife Service and TurtleWatch staff to rescue more than 1,000 eggs from nine nests. These eggs were incubated safely, resulting in 1,020 hatchlings later being released at their original nest sites.
Last season saw successful hatchlings from a record 18 sea turtle nests, a milestone the group hopes to build upon. Loggerhead turtles are classified as endangered in NSW, with a critically low number of nesting females, making every single egg precious. Green turtles, which also nest in the region, are listed as a vulnerable species.
How the Public Can Help
TurtleWatch is seeking volunteers to assist throughout the nesting season, which runs from November to March. The public is asked to look for:
- Turtle tracks (80-100cm wide, sometimes mistaken for tyre tracks).
- Nests that appear too low on the beach and risk inundation by waves.
Prompt reporting to TurtleWatch NSW is the key to giving these threatened species the best possible chance. With community awareness and action, these ancient mariners can continue to find a safe haven on NSW shores for generations to come.
