Project: 
Project D1 – National data collation, synthesis and visualisation to support sustainable use, management and monitoring of marine assets
Researcher email address: 
m.thums@aims.gov.au
Topic: 
Marine life
Species of interest in the image: 
Flatback turtle
Species scientific name: 
Natator depressus
Date: 
December, 2015
Location: 
North west shelf
Hub imagery ID: 
2860
Habitat: 
reef
Paper / Report link / Title / Story / URL: 
Environmental predictors of foraging and transit behaviour in flatback turtles (Natator depressus), Endangered Species Research
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Caption: 
Flatback sea turtle
Media type to be uploaded: 
still image
Attribution: 
AIMS
Credit: 
Dave Waayers
Contact email address: 
david.waayers@imbricata.com.au
Description: 
During the 2009/2010 marine turtle nesting season, RPS Group (Australia) deployed 11 Fastloc satellite tags on Flatback turtles from West Lacepede Island as part of the Browse LNG Development. The initial purpose of this study was to determine the post-nesting distribution of marine turtles on the island and to determine whether turtles were moving into potential impact areas around James Price Point. The tracking data was then shared with the Australian Institute of Marine Science and Hub researchers for analysis and publication. The study identified both critical habitats for this species and the environmental variables that predict their migration and foraging behaviour. (Per David Waayers, Imbricata Environmental)