Sailors' friends under threat - turtles and dugongs

Dugong and swimmer SW

Swimming with turtles - an experience never to be forgotten © SW

Sailors love to swim among them or just marvel from the bow, but the future of turtles and dugongs is anything but certain, according to conservationist New Zealander Peter Bethune.

Bethune is best known for his arrest by the Japanese whalers after they rammed and sank his 'whale warrier' boat Ady Gil in the Southern Ocean.

And it's Australia that comes in for his highest criticism. 'Even third-world countries manage their fisheries better than Australia,' he told a meeting in Cairns recently.

As an example, he quoted the case of The Solomon Islands to Torres News. 'The Solomon Islands - on Australia’s doorstep and a great deal poorer - has recognised the need for protection for these species and has already banned the hunting of turtle and dugong.'

He made the statements at a recent meeting of conservationists, politicians and animal rights groups who met in Cairns to discuss the hunting and trade of sea turtles and dugong in north Queensland and the Torres Strait.

Although at first not all those at the meeting could agree on what action should be taken, a final resolution was made that aims to ensure Native Title rights are preserved while protecting the long-term future of sea turtle and dugong.

The meeting included who took a hard-line stance on the issue saying he would like to see the current legislation changed to remove all Native Title rights involving any endangered species within Australia.

Turtle Pete Bethune with ill-fated Ady Gil, then named Earthrace, in 2008 © SW

Mr Bethune said: 'There’s a gaping wound in this country today, and, those with the power to change things, need to address it urgently before Australia loses any more respect around the world,' he said.

'The Native Title Act and Animal Care Act are failing endangered species entirely; that dugongs and sea turtles continue to be hunted in Australian waters and killed using such disgusting methods under the guise of customary rights is a disgrace.'

Cairns-based dugong and sea turtle campaigner Colin Riddell also spoke strongly for changes to the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001.

'As Queensland legislation stands now, no indigenous person in Queensland can be held responsible for the acts of cruelty we are seeing perpetrated on dugongs and sea turtles,' he said.

The Liberal National Party Candidate for the Cook Electorate, Craig Batchelor, said: 'Sometimes you just need to stand up and say ‘this is not right’.

'We must close the loophole in legislation which permits acts of cruelty to be carried out to animals taken under indigenous land rights. I cannot understand why some people in Government dare not challenge this issue for fear it may offend someone.'

Member for Leichardt Warren Entsch fought to ensure the on-going Native Title entitlements of Torres Strait islander people saying that without his input at the meeting a much different outcome would have been reached. Even so - he said that the conservation of these species needs to be ensured.

'I want to empower the Elders by providing them with Legislation that allows the Elders to manage the conservation of sea turtle and dugong.'

He said that this would require an initial survey of sea turtle and dugong numbers - to be carried out by government and indigenous parties.

'We need to be inclusive of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people every step of the way,' he said.

Greg Hunt, Shadow Minister for Climate Action, Environment and Heritage, asked for an immediate voluntary 90% reduction in dugong and turtle hunting numbers, and failing that, said that a total ban on the hunting of all turtles and dugongs would be the only solution.