Sea Turtle Foundation Attends the 6th Marine Turtle Symposium in Townsville
Three members of the Sea Turtle Foundation – Scott, Gabrielle, and Ewa – were fortunate enough to be invited and attend the 6th Marine Turtle Symposium held in Townsville from October 14-16, 2024. The event brought together an impressive lineup of experts from across Australia and the Pacific, all united in their passion for sea turtle conservation.
The first two days of the Symposium were packed with insightful presentations and
discussions on a wide range of important topics, including:
● The impact of climate change, light and plastic pollution, and tourism on turtle
populations, as well as the best practice strategies being developed to mitigate these
threats.
● Turtle strandings and the strategies used in their management and rehabilitation.
● Turtle migration patterns and the health challenges that threaten turtle populations.
● Collaborative research efforts with Indigenous rangers and the vital role they play in
turtle conservation.
● Cutting-edge research projects aimed at expanding our knowledge of sea turtles and
improving conservation practices.
A standout moment of the Symposium was the keynote address by the legendary Col
Limpus AO PSM, whose work in the field of sea turtle research has been groundbreaking.
Col presented his hypothesis that flatback turtles may alter their breeding locations in
response to the impacts of climate change. As always, Col’s talk left the audience both
inspired and thought-provoked. His retirement announcement at the end of his presentation
was met with a heartfelt standing ovation from the attendees, marking the end of an era in
marine turtle conservation.