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Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)

The Leatherback Turtle is the largest sea turtle and has a wide-ranging marine distribution that extends to Australia. It spends most of its life in the open ocean, while sandy nesting beaches are important for reproduction.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered.

New South Wales, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Endangered.

Victoria, Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988: Critically endangered.

Queensland, Nature Conservation Act 1992: Endangered.

South Australia, National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972: Vulnerable.

Western Australia, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Vulnerable.

Tasmania, Threatened Species Protection Act 1995: Vulnerable.

Northern Territory, Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976: Critically endangered.

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Listed migratory. Listed migratory species are a matter of national environmental significance, so a significant impact needs referral.

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Listed marine. A listed marine species under Part 13 of the EPBC Act. Killing, injuring, taking or moving it in a Commonwealth area needs a permit.

Seasonal planning

Leatherback turtles occur in Australian waters year-round, with hotspots in the extreme southeast from December to March and in temperate and subtropical waters to the west and east mainly from June to August.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Present in Australian waters: Leatherback turtles occur in Australian waters year-round, with hotspots in the extreme southeast from December to March and in temperate and subtropical waters to the west and east mainly from June to August.

Identification: Appearance

It has a blackish, leathery carapace with seven lengthwise ridges and pale spotting. The body is barrel-shaped and tapers to a blunt point at the rear.

It has a blackish, leathery carapace with seven lengthwise ridges and pale spotting. The body is barrel-shaped and tapers to a blunt point at the rear.

Identification: Confirming identity

Confirm the identity of any suspected record with a specialist and a photograph or voucher, as required by the relevant permit.

Distribution: Known range

The species occurs in tropical and temperate waters worldwide, including waters around Australia. It is highly migratory and uses both open-ocean and, less often, coastal waters.

The species occurs in tropical and temperate waters worldwide, including waters around Australia. It is highly migratory and uses both open-ocean and, less often, coastal waters.

Distribution: National mapping

The Commonwealth species distribution model (SNES) maps where the species or its habitat is known, likely or may occur. Use it with local records and site inspection.

Habitat: Habitat

Leatherback Turtles spend most of their time in pelagic waters, including waters over continental shelves, and sometimes forage in coastal waters. Females nest on sandy beaches, often where deep-water access is unobstructed.

Leatherback Turtles spend most of their time in pelagic waters, including waters over continental shelves, and sometimes forage in coastal waters. Females nest on sandy beaches, often where deep-water access is unobstructed.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Jellyfish are the main prey, and Leatherback Turtles feed on soft-bodied organisms in the water column. Their diet can also include tunicates and other associated marine animals.

Jellyfish are the main prey, and Leatherback Turtles feed on soft-bodied organisms in the water column. Their diet can also include tunicates and other associated marine animals.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

Females come ashore to lay eggs on sandy beaches, and may nest on tropical or subtropical beaches. They may return to their hatching beach to lay eggs.

Females come ashore to lay eggs on sandy beaches, and may nest on tropical or subtropical beaches. They may return to their hatching beach to lay eggs.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Threats: Threats

Threats include entanglement in fishing gear, ingestion of plastic and other marine debris, and propeller wounds. Loss or degradation of nesting habitat, egg collection and disturbance from beach lighting can also affect the species.

Threats include entanglement in fishing gear, ingestion of plastic and other marine debris, and propeller wounds. Loss or degradation of nesting habitat, egg collection and disturbance from beach lighting can also affect the species.

Threats: Works risk

Works that remove or alter nesting beaches can reduce available nesting habitat, and beach lighting can draw hatchlings away from the sea. Vessel activity can cause propeller wounds, while fishing gear and marine debris can entangle turtles or be ingested.

Survey methodology: 1. Commonwealth guidance

Use methods consistent with the Commonwealth survey guidelines and engage a specialist with the right permits.

For EPBC Act referrals, survey effort and methods should be consistent with the ePBC Act publications, including the National Guidelines for the Survey of Cetaceans, Marine Turtles and the Dugong (2024), read with the Significant impact guidelines 1.1.

Survey methodology: 2. Limits

A non-detection is not proof of absence. Match survey timing to the species and season, and record effort.

Vegetation associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific vegetation association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific water association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before disturbance: 1. Desktop and approvals

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before works begin.

Check national mapping, state records and recent surveys for the site. An action likely to have a significant impact on this nationally listed species needs EPBC Act referral, and state permits apply where it is state listed.

Before disturbance: 2. Plan to avoid

Plan in-water works, vessel movements and lighting to avoid known habitat and sensitive periods, and set observer and shutdown procedures before works start.

During disturbance: 1. Controls

Keep works inside the approved footprint and conditions.

Use spotters and exclusion zones for in-water works and vessels, and pause works if the species is seen within the zone.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species is found unexpectedly, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and the relevant agency.

After disturbance: 1. Records

Record outcomes.

Record sightings, habitat lost or retained and any injury or death, and report them under the approval conditions.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed habitat where possible.

Remove temporary structures, restore natural flow and substrate, and monitor water quality until it returns to baseline.

Sources