Western Australian Loggerheads - South Muiron Is 2015-2016

Original provider:
Aubrey Strydom

Dataset credits:
Data provider
Aubrey Strydom
Originating data center
<a href='http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/' target='_blank'>Satellite Tracking and Analysis Tool (STAT)</a>
Project partner
Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife<br>Marine Science Program<br>Muiron Islands Marine Management Area<br>Aubrey Strydom

Abstract:
South Muiron Island Loggerhead Turtle Tagging<br>The Muiron Islands are located off the North West Cape of Western Australia, approximately 1200 km north of Perth. The Island group consists of South and North Muiron islands, which are separated by a deep-water channel, and Sunday Island which is smaller and lies further east. <br>The islands are protected for their diverse marine environment and important seabird and turtle nesting areas through the Muiron Islands Marine Management Area, Western Australia’s first marine management area, which was gazetted on 30 November 2004.<br>Close by lies the Ningaloo Reef, Australia’s largest fringing coral reef, boasting spectacular coral formations, abundant fishes and species with special conservation significance such as turtles, whale sharks, dugongs, whales and dolphins. Ningaloo Marine Park was first gazetted in 1987 to recognise and protect this diverse biological hotspot with amendments made to park boundaries on 30 November 2004 to encompass the whole of the Ningaloo Reef. The Department of Parks and Wildlife is the primary manager of these reserves. <br>The Muiron islands and the beaches of the Ningaloo coast provide an important habitat and relatively undisturbed nesting area for the loggerhead (Caretta caretta), green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) turtles between November and March each year. Flatback and leatherback turtles have also been recorded foraging occasionally along the Ningaloo coast. <br>In recognition of these important and diverse reserves, the surrounding area was bestowed the highest level of international recognition with its inscription on the World Heritage List for its natural beauty and biological diversity in June 2011. The Ningaloo World Heritage Area encompasses 604,500ha in total, including the Muiron Islands Marine Management Area, Ningaloo Marine Park, Cape Range National Park, the Learmonth Air Weapons Range and Bundegi and Jurabi Coastal Parks. <br>The nesting range of loggerhead turtles in Western Australia extends from Dirk Hartog Island in the south to the Muiron Islands in the north, with important rookeries in between, including Gnaraloo Bay, Cape Farquhar, Janes Bay and Bungelup in the Ningaloo Marine Park. Satellite tagging at the Muiron Islands is part of a broader coordinated program in the 2015/16 season to understand inter-nesting movements, post-nesting migration, identify foraging grounds and potential threats across their entire nesting range in Western Australia with loggerhead turtles also tagged at Dirk Hartog Island and Gnaraloo.<br>