Northern Territory Marine Megafauna Strandings July 2014 - December 2015

• Main Authors: Mackarous, Kelly, Griffiths, Tony
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Department of Land Resource Management, Flora and Fauna Division, Marine Ecosystems 2016
• Subjects: Cetacea > Australia > Northern Territory; Marine mammals > Australia > Northern Territory; Fishes > Strandings; Killer Whale
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10070/262496

This report summarises marine megafauna (cetaceans, dugongs and marine turtles) strandings throughout the Northern Territory (NT), from July 2014 to December 2015. Stranding records were obtained from a range of sources, including direct reports to Marine WildWatch, Aboriginal sea ranger groups and other organisations (Australian Border Forces, Australian Fisheries Management Authority, Northern Prawn Fishery Industry and NT Fisheries). Overall, 128 strandings were recorded over the past year and a half, including; 117 marine turtles, four dolphins (including one false killer whale) and seven dugongs. Turtle strandings consisted of five species, and the dolphins consisted of two species. Ghost net entanglement was the most common cause of stranding mortalities, which was restricted to marine turtles. Other causes of stranding mortalities were related to natural factors such as unhealthy conditions (emaciated and starvation), abnormalities and infections, as well as human interactions such as boat strikes. The potential cause of injury and death for a quarter of all strandings was unknown due to animals being too decomposed for further investigation. The management of marine debris is discussed including the initiatives being implemented across the NT. Strandings in the NT remain relatively low compared to other jurisdictions in Australia, however the number of reported strandings has increased from the previous report due to the increase in the involvement of Aboriginal ranger groups and other organisations with Marine WildWatch. Furthermore, the Marine WildWatch program has developed new initiatives to assist in improving the management of stranding records including a website for reporting and provision of strandings kits to broaden the monitoring of stranded marine megafauna across the remote coastline of the Northern Territory. Executive summary -- List of figures and tables -- 1. Introduction -- 1.1 Background -- 1.2 NT Marine WildWatch Program -- 2. Approach -- 3. Results -- 3.1 Dugongs -- 3.2 Dolphins -- 3.3 Turtles -- 4. Discussion -- 4.1 Marine Debris -- 4.2 New Marine WildWatch Initiatives -- 4.3 National perspective -- 5. Conclusion -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Appendices: Appendix 1. Turtle Stranding Form -- Appendix 2. Dugong Stranding Form -- Appendix 3. Cetacean Stranding Form -- Appendix 4. Vet lab reports on turtle strandings across the NT -- Appendix 5. Northern Prawn Fishery Industry and locations throughout NT waters -- Appendix 6. Statistical Areas of the Northern Prawn Fishery Industry bycatch in NT waters -- Appendix 7. NT WildWatch online portal