The impacts of light from developments on land and offshore industries, as well as feral animals are considered to be the two highest priority threats to the flatback turtles of the North West Shelf. 

Medium priority threats are from increasing global temperatures, modification to beaches, sea level rise and marine debris.

Light

Map showing light pollution in Western Australia

1 - Impacts of onshore and nearshore light (high).
Light has been identified as the greatest threat that turtles are facing within the North West Shelf population.

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Predation

Fox on the beach

2 - Introduced animals (high).
You may be surprised to learn that introduced animals can also have an impact on turtles.

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Climate change

Temperature rising

3 - Increasing temperatures.
Climate change is predicted to increase global temperatures, which would increase sand, water and air temperature.

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 Beach change

beach with artificial sand slope

4 - Modification to beaches
This pressure occurs when there are significant changes to the physical structure, or composition, of beaches.

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Sea level rise

Rough ocean

5 - Sea level rise
Climate change is predicted to impact the oceans with rising sea levels, as well as increasing storm frequency and severity.

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Marine debris

Plastic bag floating in the ocean

6 - Marine debris
Marine debris is the discarded human waste in the ocean, and includes fishing nets, to nano-plastics.

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