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Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta)

The loggerhead turtle is a marine reptile found in Australia in tropical and warm temperate coastal waters off Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia and New South Wales. Coral reefs, bays and estuaries are habitats that may be relevant when planning works in coastal areas.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered.

New South Wales, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Endangered.

Queensland, Nature Conservation Act 1992: Endangered.

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

Western Australia, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Endangered.

Tasmania, Threatened Species Protection Act 1995: Endangered.

Northern Territory, Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976: Vulnerable.

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

In south-eastern Queensland, loggerheads nest from late October to late February or early March, peaking in late December.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Nesting season: In south-eastern Queensland, loggerheads nest from late October to late February or early March, peaking in late December.

Identification: Appearance

Loggerheads have a relatively large head and powerful jaws. Adults and sub-adults have a slightly heart-shaped, reddish-brown upper shell and a generally pale yellow lower shell.

Loggerheads have a relatively large head and powerful jaws. Adults and sub-adults have a slightly heart-shaped, reddish-brown upper shell and a generally pale yellow lower shell.

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

In Australia, loggerheads occur in coastal waters off Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia and New South Wales. Worldwide, they occur in tropical and temperate regions of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans and the Mediterranean Sea.

In Australia, loggerheads occur in coastal waters off Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia and New South Wales. Worldwide, they occur in tropical and temperate regions of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans and the Mediterranean Sea.

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

In Australian waters, loggerheads use coral reefs, bays and estuaries in tropical and warm temperate areas. Across their range, they also use inshore waters and feeding areas around reefs and rocky places.

In Australian waters, loggerheads use coral reefs, bays and estuaries in tropical and warm temperate areas. Across their range, they also use inshore waters and feeding areas around reefs and rocky places.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Loggerheads use their powerful jaws to feed on hard-shelled prey, including molluscs and crustaceans. Whelks and conch are examples of prey.

Loggerheads use their powerful jaws to feed on hard-shelled prey, including molluscs and crustaceans. Whelks and conch are examples of prey.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

Females nest on open beaches or along narrow bays with suitable sand. Sexual maturity is reached at around 35 years of age.

Females nest on open beaches or along narrow bays with suitable sand. Sexual maturity is reached at around 35 years of age.

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

Incidental capture in fishing gear is a major cause of decline and an ongoing threat. Gear involved includes longlines, gillnets, trawls, traps, pots and dredges.

Incidental capture in fishing gear is a major cause of decline and an ongoing threat. Gear involved includes longlines, gillnets, trawls, traps, pots and dredges.

Threats: Works risk

Works that affect suitable sandy beaches could disturb nesting habitat, while works affecting reefs, bays or estuaries could alter habitats used by loggerheads. Fishing-related activity can also cause harm through incidental capture in fishing gear.

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