Developing collaborative marine turtle monitoring in the Kimberley region of northern Australia.

Abstract

Common to Indigenous land and sea management plans is the value placed on traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and the articulation of how TEK and scientific methods can be brought together for better management. Livelihood opportunities based on natural resources are also an aspiration common to many communities, and goals aimed at overcoming economic, technical and/or educational disadvantage typical of remote communities appear in these plans. Their implementation thus requires long-term investment in the achievement of both conservation outcomes (such as those arising from scientific surveys, research and ongoing management actions) and community development outcomes (including infrastructure, education and governance), as well as support for maintenance of cultural practices and knowledge.

Marine turtles are of cultural and conservation significance to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Australia. Six of the world’s seven marine turtle species inhabit Australian waters. This study describes the process of establishing, in two sites in the Kimberley region of northern Australia, a participatory research project combining traditional, local and scientific knowledge to monitor marine turtles. While a detailed evaluation of the transect method and analysis of data collected during this project is beyond the scope of this study (and will be reported elsewhere), here we outline the steps taken to design the project and develop the survey method.