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On Thursday, 16 January 2025 a green sea turtle was stranded on Queens Beach South, just north of the Redcliffe Jetty.
The mature female was spotted about 20 minutes after sunrise (5:08 am) and probably made her way ashore at low tide (4:15 am).
Across her dorsal shell (carapace) and adjacent to her back flippers was an old boat strike injury. The gash — 420mm long, 40mm wide and 50mm deep — which had healed over some time earlier.
She was a very large turtle — 112cms in length — and her carapace was covered with epibionts — algae and small barnacles. Excessive growth can impair a turtle’s ability to swim and dive.
Local, Mike Hawkins spotted the turtle at about 5:30am and stayed with her until rangers removed her from the beach later in the day.
Sheryl (last name unknown) contacted SeaWorld who in turn contacted the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) rangers at Manly to pick up the turtle, who transported it to Manly for collection by the SeaWorld research and rescue team.

REF Environmental coordinates a turtle strandings team (Turtles of Moreton Bay) comprising 14 volunteers who collaborate with the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) and Moreton Bay Rangers on turtle strandings and rescues in the region.

Susie Bedford from the REF team attended the stranding. She spotted a post from Deb Strang on Facebook and alerted the Turtles of Moreton bay group. Susie has had 23 years-experience working as a volunteer and trainer with the Ningaloo Turtle Program, which she co-founded, and 4 years rescuing and rehabilitating turtles with the Ningaloo Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.

As a trained volunteer with REF( Turtles of Moreton Bay), Susie provided QPWS with all the requisite details: date, location, onshore-offshore, tide height, species, number, dead-alive, injuries, behaviour and size.
Our turtle seemingly had buoyancy issues given the extensive growth on her shell.

Floating syndrome’ is a serious condition that affects sea turtles, making them unable to dive and more vulnerable to predators. Turtles can mistake marine debris such as plastic for food. This gets stuck in their digestive tract and creates a gas buildup, which makes the turtle buoyant and unable to dive. It can make them vulnerable to boat traffic. Another condition, ‘Bubble Butt Syndrome’ is caused by injuries from boat strike and can trap air or gas in a turtle’s shell making it difficult for them to dive.
We made some recent enquiries to SeaWorld Research & Rescue and found out that, unfortunately, they were unable to save the turtle due to a severe infection related to a previous boat strike injury. Sea World Aquarist Supervisor, Siobhan Houlihan stated “Sadly, the green sea turtle which came into our care after being rescued by Queensland Parks and Wildlife near Redcliffe Jetty, succumbed to an infection resulting from a severe boat strike injury. “Unfortunately, we are seeing more turtles coming into care due to human impact, and we are encouraging people to use our waterways more responsibly, so please “Go slow for those below”.

According to Scarborough resident and Oceania environmental advocate Colin Scobie, “Human activities significantly impact the lives and deaths of turtles. Discarded plastic bags, boat strikes and bycatch all put our turtle’s at risk. Stormwater runoff from agricultural, industry and urban land contains sediment and pollutants, which not only covers seagrass meadows, contributing to starvation, but also weakens a turtle through the bioaccumulation of toxicants.”

Six of the world’s seven species of sea turtle can be found in Moreton Bay. Six of the seven species of sea turtle in the world are found in Moreton Bay. The green and loggerhead turtle are the most common and are permanent residents.
Turtles are surface-breathing marine animals and are often injured or killed by speeding vessels when coming up for air. Moreton Bay is a hot spot for boat strikes—half of the incidents recorded along the Queensland coast occur in Moreton Bay.
Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.

MARINE WILDLIFE STRANDINGS. WHAT CAN YOU DO.
Report a sick, injured or dead marine animal by using the free QWildlife app (iOS or Android) or call the 24/7 Duty Ranger on 1300 130 372 (press option 1 then 4). If unanswered, leave a message and they will call back.
MORETON BAY TURTLE SYMPOSIUM – 04 MAY 2025
Dr. Colin Limpus, founder of the popular Mon Repos Turtle Rookery on the Bundaberg coast and world expert in turtle research and conservation is the keynote speaker at this forum.
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST HERE!
Article by Peter Row – Citizen Scientist and Environmental Advocate