The cultural and ecological importance of marine turtles is multifaceted and widespread. The Queensland government (DETSI) leads the world’s largest regional marine turtle monitoring and management program, with Traditional Owner (TO) participation primarily through Land and Sea Ranger programs. Nonetheless, key threats may operate at local scales, the scale at which Sea Country is often considered and managed by TOs. Local-scale projects fill gaps in our understanding of populations. For example, though extensive foraging ground studies have taken place at some locations, many other potentially important remote green turtle foraging grounds in the northern Great Barrier Reef are understudied.
Our team is amid a new process to connect with and report on scientific information about dugong and turtle within Sea Countries interested in engaging through this project.
We present 1) a synthesis of this existing scientific knowledge, highlighting local science gaps, 2) a review of TO participation in these science projects. As part of this project, research interests and knowledge gaps around sea turtles may be raised by TOs. There is an opportunity for us to consolidate knowledge needs from both science and TO perspectives as a resource for communities to design, establish and lead targeted projects including research collaborations.