January 1 - 31, 2025: Issue 638

 

Are Turtles not Safe in the Estuary? Green Turtle Killed in Pittwater Prompts Renewed Calls for Boaters to slow down, adhere to the speed limit 

Body of the Green Turtle killed in Pittwater. Photo supplied

Pittwater resident Madeleine B. found the body of a large Green Turtle on a small beach on the estuary this past week, clearly showing on its carapace it had been struck and ripped apart from a boat strike.

The size of the turtle means there is no way whoever ran over it would not be aware they had struck something.

The Green Turtle, Chelonia mydas, is one of the largest and the only herbivorous marine turtle – feeding almost exclusively on seagrass and algae.

Green turtles are listed globally as Endangered (to extinction) by the IUCN and listed as Vulnerable in NSW and in across Australia.

The turtle was found on a small beach on the estuary at Newport, although by Friday January 10 the high tides had shifted the body towards Clareville. 

Madeleine had contacted WIRES, where Lynette responded to see if the turtle could be saved and stated the turtle was at least 70 years of age, and has since contact the council so the body could be removed.

Green Turtles feed on the seagrasses that grow in the Pittwater estuary and have been a part of the landscape and seascape, alike the birds that are no longer safe in their nests and the koalas that no longer live in Pittwater trees, since before Europeans settled in this area. The current rate of destruction of habitat for developer profiteers has caused the local extinction of many endemic wildlife species across Sydney; a policy that is leading to the collapse of ecosystems.

For the local turtles, with a lineage that stretches back through hundreds of generations over thousands of years, those exceeding the speed limit on the estuary are causing the painful and undignified death of these sentient beings.

Seals, penguins and dolphins also frequent the estuary.

Madeleine is among a growing number of residents calling for visitors and other residents to ‘step up’ to ensure these other residents do not become locally extinct, as the Pittwater koala has, and for patrols to be increased to ensure others are not put at risk.

In 2022 an offshore resident reported seeing an injured green turtle between Elvina and Lovett Bays on March 28th, its carapace clearly injured by a boat strike, while at the same time being a witness to boats speeding in the area and too close to the shoreline, where these turtles are seen.  

Historically, speeding on the estuary, has caused the deaths of other people when boats collide. Added to this, during Summer holidays, many local young children are out fishing in small tinnies.

Residents have witnessed people speeding close to shore and across the estuary during the past few weeks and are calling on Marine Command NSW to step up its patrols of the estuary in a bid to stop another tragedy before it occurs. 

Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby said on Friday, January 10:

‘Many people aren’t aware that Pittwater has turtle populations both in our ocean waters and in Pittwater. In the short time since I’ve been elected, a turtle has been trapped in a shark net, rescued from rocks at Whale Beach and more recently found dead due to a likely boat strike.

‘I’m working to ensure the NSW government ends its use of ineffective shark nets and supports more modern and effective shark management to reduce the entanglement of turtles and other marine creatures. I also want to raise awareness for those using boats on Pittwater to watch out for turtles and adhere to the speed limits, especially close to the shore.’

side view of the turtle found on the beach on Pittwater. photo supplied

Only three species of marine turtles are known to regularly occur in Sydney waters; the Green Turtle, the Loggerhead Turtle and the Leatherback Turtle. There are seven species of marine turtles in the world and six occur in Australian waters. All six species have suffered population declines as a result of pollution, entanglement in fishing and shark nets, boat strikes and egg predation by introduced species such as foxes, along with people taking their dogs into their areas.

In some parts of the world, Green Turtles are hunted for their meat and eggs and used to make turtle soup. All turtles are protected in Australian waters.

The Green Turtle has a small head compared with its body and strong front flippers to glide through the water. It gets its name from the colour of its fat rather than the colour of its carapace (shell). The Green Turtle, like all reptiles, has lungs and must come to the surface about every half hour to breathe air.

Green Turtles live in coastal waters, seagrass, oceans and coral reefs. Marine scientists state they will live for at least 100 years.

Marine turtles will spend their entire life at sea, except for nesting females, which crawl onto the beach to lay their eggs. They choose a site high on the beach, dig a hole with their strong flippers, and lay about 100 eggs before covering them with sand. Females appear to return to the same area each time to breed, which is also the same area where they were born. Marine turtles grow slowly and take between 30 and 50 years to reach sexual maturity.

This means this one would have been of an age where it could have contributed to turning the tide of the loss of these beautiful animals.

The speed limit for the General Pittwater area is 8 knots. In the Pittwater (Currawong Beach - Coasters Retreat - Bayview -  McCarrs Creek) Area it is 4 knots.

In NSW regulations for Powered vessels – including PWC – travelling at a speed of 6 knots or more must keep a minimum distance of 30m from:
  • other vessels – including when these vessels are moored or at anchor
  • structures – including jetties, bridges and navigation markers
  • the shore.
When you're driving a PWC, you must not drive in an irregular manner when:
  • you're within 200m of shore within a PWC restriction Zone, or
  • you're within 200m of shore in all waterways, when one or more dwellings are visible from the water and located within 200m of shore.
The operator of a vessel must not produce wash that causes unreasonable damage or impact to:
  • Any dredge or floating plant
  • Any construction or other works in progress
  • Any bank, shore or waterside structure
  • Any other vessel, including a vessel that’s moored.
In the event this rule is not adhered to, penalties apply.

Distance from Marine Life
You must also keep minimum distances from whales, dolphins and other marine life.

Whales, dolphins and dugongs
Powerboats, sailing boats and paddlecraft must keep a minimum distance from whales of:
  • 100m, or
  • 300m if there are calves.
You must travel at a constant slow speed and leave minimal wash within 300m of whales.

You must keep a minimum distance from dolphins and dugongs of:
  • 50m, or
  • 150m if there are calves.
You must travel at a constant slow speed and leave minimal wash within 150m of dolphins and dugongs.

If you're driving a personal watercraft (PWC), you must keep a minimum distance of 300m from whales, dolphins and dugongs. PWC can make fast and erratic movements and less noise underwater than other vessels. This means PWC are more likely to collide with a marine mammal.

If there are predominantly white whales, all vessels, including PWC, must keep a distance of 500m.

Seals and sea lions
All vessels, including PWC, must keep a minimum distance from seals and sea lions of:
  • 40m, or
  • 80m if there are pups.
Speed limits on the Pittwater Estuary
In the Pittwater (Currawong Beach - Coasters Retreat) Area - The navigable waters of that part of Currawong Beach and Coasters Retreat west and south of lines commencing from a point on the southern shore of Sinclair Point in a generally south westerly direction one hundred and twenty (120) metres parallel to the shoreline to a point approximately three hundred and twenty (320) metres south of the Currawong Beach Jetty thence in a south easterly direction to the north eastern extremity of Bennetts Wharf Coasters Retreat – four knots.

Pittwater (Bayview) Area – The whole of the navigable waters at the head of Pittwater generally south east of a line commencing from the north western corner of the northernmost marina jetty of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club premises at Green Point, in a south westerly direction across the waterway to the north western extremity of the Bayview Public Wharf – four knots.

Pittwater (McCarrs Creek) Area – The whole of the navigable waters of McCarrs Creek upstream of a line across the waterway commencing at a point on the shore one hundred and thirty five (135) metres west of the northernmost extremity of Church Point in a north westerly direction across McCarrs Creek to a point on the northern shore one hundred and twenty (120) metres south west of the easternmost extremity of the unnamed point on the southern shore of Elvina Bay – four knots.

Pittwater (General) Area – The navigable waters of and or adjoining Careel Bay, Paradise Beach, Clareville Beach, Long Beach, Refuge Cove, Salt Pan Cove, Horseshoe Cove, Bayview, Church Point and Elvina Bay, enclosed by the following direct lines: commencing at a point on the southern shore of Careel Bay two hundred (200) metres east of the Careel Bay Public Wharf in a generally north northwesterly direction for one thousand one hundred (1100) metres to a point currently occupied by a special navigation aid numbered 051, thence in a generally south westerly direction for approximately six hundred (600) metres to the northern extremity of Stokes Point, thence to the north-western extremity of Taylors Point, thence in a generally southerly direction for one thousand four hundred (1400) metres to a point adjacent to Holmes Reef approximately two hundred (200) metres west of Salt Pan Point, thence in a generally southerly direction for five hundred and twenty five (525) metres to a point adjacent the Royal Motor Yacht Club breakwater refuelling facility, thence in a generally south westerly direction across the waterway for four hundred (400) metres, thence in a generally north westerly direction for one thousand seven hundred and fifty (1750) metres to a point approximately one hundred (100) metres north of Church Point, thence to the eastern extremity of the unnamed point on the southern side of Elvina Bay and thence to the south eastern extremity of Rocky Point on the northern shore of Elvina Bay, excluding that area generally south east of a line commencing from the north western corner of the northernmost marina jetty of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club premises at Green Point, in a south westerly direction across the waterway to the north western extremity of the Bayview Public Wharf and that area generally south west of a line commencing at a point on the shore one hundred and thirty five (135) metres west of the northernmost extremity of Church Point in a north westerly direction across McCarrs Creek to a point on the northern shore one hundred and twenty (120) metres south west of the easternmost extremity of the unnamed point on the southern side of Elvina Bay – eight knots.

 

Pittwater - inshore indicator off Bayview