Beachgoers along the New South Wales coastline are being recruited as vital citizen scientists in a crucial mission to protect endangered sea turtles. The call to action comes after the first nest of the breeding season was discovered, sparking a rescue operation and highlighting the ongoing threats to these vulnerable species.
Community Vigilance Key to Nest Survival
The campaign, spearheaded by TurtleWatch NSW, urges the public to monitor beaches from the Tweed in the north down to Batemans Bay. Volunteers are asked to walk their local beaches early in the morning along the high tide line, looking for the distinctive tracks left by nesting females, which are typically 80 to 100cm wide and can sometimes be mistaken for tyre marks.
"We are asking beachgoers to become citizen scientists," said TurtleWatch NSW's Merryn Dunleavy. She emphasised that every nest reported will be safeguarded, and the commitment from coastal communities is essential for the nests' survival. Loggerhead turtles are classified as endangered in NSW, with very few nesting females, making each egg precious. Green turtles are listed as a vulnerable species.
Rescue Missions and Cyclone Threats
The importance of this vigilance was starkly demonstrated earlier in 2025. Ahead of ex-tropical cyclone Alfred, which reshaped the northern NSW coastline and reduced suitable nesting habitat by creating steep drop-offs, a swift rescue operation was launched. National Parks and Wildlife Service and TurtleWatch staff rescued more than 1,000 eggs from nine nests. These eggs were incubated safely, and subsequently, 1,020 hatchlings were successfully released at their original nest sites.
The recent discovery of the first nest of this season also required intervention, as it was found too close to the water's edge. Trained staff carefully relocated the eggs using cooler-box incubators that proved successful last season, which saw a record 18 sea turtle nests result in successful hatchings.
How the Public Can Help
TurtleWatch NSW is actively seeking volunteers to assist throughout the nesting season, which runs from November to March. The organisation stresses that prompt reporting of turtle tracks, particularly for nests in low-lying areas vulnerable to inundation, is key to giving eggs the best chance to hatch.
With the landscape altered by severe weather and natural nesting habitats under pressure, the role of the public has never been more critical. By turning beach walks into survey missions, residents and visitors can play a direct part in the conservation of some of Australia's most treasured and threatened marine life.
