The Crab Island Sea Turtle Rookery in the North-Eastern Gulf of Carpentaria

Abstract

Crab I. in north Queensland supports a large all-year nesting population of Chelonia depressa and occasional nesting by Eretmochelys imbricata and Lepidochelys olivacea. Measurements of nesting turtles, eggs, nests, hatchlings are summarized. A preliminary model of C. depressa egg and hatchling mortality gave values for the proportion of eggs producing hatchlings into the sea ranging from 48% to 89% in different months. The nesting distribution of C. depressa is reviewed and Crab I. identified as its most significant breeding beach.