Dugong and Turtle Fisheries

Hunting for turtle and dugong is important in Torres Strait Islander culture as well as being a major source of protein in Islanders' diet. Dugong and turtle may only be taken in the course of traditional fishing and used for traditional purposes.

Turtles are taken in all areas of the Torres Strait while dugong are caught mainly in the western region.

Condition of the fisheries

Dugong

The population of dugongs in Torres Strait is estimated from aerial surveys. Aerial surveys have been conducted in 1987, 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2006. The most recent population estimate is 14,747 ± 2292. The estimated annual catch for 2001 by communities in the Australian sector of the TSPZ is 619 ± 134 dugongs.

Turtle

There are no population estimates for turtle stocks in the Torres Strait however the monitoring of key turtle nesting sites in Queensland has flagged concerns with respect to the green turtle stocks. As a result, there is a growing awareness of the need to manage the traditional take of green turtles to ensure the long term viability of the population. The estimated annual catch of green turtles in 2001 by communities in the Australian area of jurisdiction of the TSPZ was 1,619 ± 574 turtles.

Other turtle species are not generally taken for food however the eggs of the hawksbill, flatback and green turtles are regularly harvested by Traditional Inhabitants. The level of annual harvest of eggs is unknown.

Management objectives

Objectives adopted for the Torres Strait Turtle and Dugong Fisheries are:

• to promote the conservation of turtle and dugong stocks; and
• to restrict the taking of dugongs and turtles to Traditional Inhabitants fishing for traditional purposes.

Management arrangements

Only Traditional Inhabitants of the Torres Strait and PNG Treaty villages are allowed to take dugongs or turtles.

Management regulations

Regulations currently implemented in the Torres Strait Dugong and Turtle Fisheries include:

• Dugongs and turtles may only be taken by Traditional Inhabitants.
• Dugongs may only be taken using the traditional spear (wap).
• Dugong hunting is banned in a large area of western Torres Strait which has been set aside as a dugong sanctuary (see map).
• Dugongs and turtles cannot be taken or carried in a commercially licenced fishing boat greater than 6m in length (boats under 6m with a TIB licence are permitted to take and carry turtle and dugong).

Page last updated 20 June, 2008