About Us

Image credit: Leisa Baldwin

Knowledge exchange

Activities that grow information loops across research, management and on-ground action with communities and Traditional Custodians.

Capacity building

Training and development activities that support groups delivering on-ground efforts.

Collaboration

Identify and coordinate ways to connect multiple local actions for larger collective outcomes for turtles and people.

1. Organisation of webinars aiming to showcase membership activities and achievements, as well as sharing knowledge and best practices with the network
2. Establishment of annual QMTN fora enabling the network to meet in person, connect, and plan steps for the nesting season ahead
3. Implementation of a membership survey to identify main threats to sea turtles in Queensland, identify members’ activities, and understand organisations’ needs and interest in collaborating
4. Consolidation of a management committee which will pave the way for future activities and ensure a smooth management of the network

We will be collaborating with the Queensland Department of Environment Tourism Science and Innovation (DETSI) to facilitate an annual online Network Debriefing to ensure that seasonal turtle data is discussed with QMTN members. This is currently being planning for the online Forum in mid-June.

We will be conducting a needs and gap analysis with the QMTN network and other key partners to inform the ongoing development of citizen science training activities and products with benefits for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA) and associated communities. We will produce a digital summary report with recommendations.

We will continue to liaise with DETSI and QMTN members to further scope critical research for management needs to identify gaps and opportunities that better leverage the QMTN network to deliver targeted and coordinated on-ground conservation activities for marine turtles, with outcomes for the GBRWHA.

We will produce a digital prospectus document outlining priority focus areas and next steps.

QMTN Webinar Series

Over the past year, the Queensland Marine Turtle Network (QMTN) has hosted three webinars featuring the latest research, conservation projects, and collaborative initiatives from across Queensland and beyond. The webinar series will continue throughout 2026 and 2027, providing an ongoing platform for knowledge sharing, project updates, and connection across the network. It will also continue to showcase new scientific findings and highlight the work of organisations and practitioners involved in marine turtle conservation. Previous webinars have explored topics such as the effects of artificial lighting on marine turtles, applying human behaviour change to conservation, and international efforts to address illegal wildlife trade and develop blue corridors.

2025 QMTN Membership Survey

The QMTN surveyed its members to better understand the current landscape of marine turtle conservation across Queensland. The survey highlights the vital contribution of community groups and Indigenous-led programs in delivering marine turtle monitoring, education, threat mitigation, and response activities. It also identifies common conservation challenges, including predation, marine debris, vessel strike, and light pollution, which present valuable opportunities for coordinated action across the state. The results reinforce the importance of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and strong partnerships in addressing these threats and supporting long-term conservation outcomes. Insights from the survey will help inform QMTN’s future priorities and strengthen its role in connecting organisations, facilitating collaboration, and supporting effective, coordinated marine turtle conservation throughout Queensland.

July 2025 – Second QMTN Forum

Annual fora are a crucial appointment for the network, enabling engagement, exchanges and knowledge sharing among member organisations.

QMTN second forum was held online on the 24th of July, with 97 attendees registered. The forum provided the opportunity to review QMTN’s recent achievements and discuss strategic priorities ahead. The event also allowed member organisations to be updated on important progress from the field, such as the Queensland Turtle Conservation Project nesting-season debrief from Kyle Debets (Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation), and to share success stories: Dr Manuela Fischer highlighted predator-management successes under the WCTTAA alliance, and Bethlea Bell showcased FBA’s Team Turtle CQ youth engagement program. The forum closed with live Mentimeter polls – gauging regional threats, training needs and interest in a 2025 member snapshot – and a feedback survey, ensuring all voices helped shape QMTN’s plans for collaboration, data-sharing and capacity-building in the year ahead.

May 2023 – First QMTN Forum

The inaugural QMTN Forum was held on 27 May 2023 in Bundaberg (Taribelang Bunda Country). Forty-six participants (including eleven online) attended the event from around Queensland from the Cape (Lama Lama Country) to the Gold Coast.

This was the first time that many of these on-ground groups gathered. The Forum aimed to increase collaboration, cohesion, and resilience amongst network members to increase knowledge sharing and reduce duplicated efforts between marine turtle groups.