Into the big blue

The video captured a full day of immersive learning during a recent field trip, which included weighing the sea turtles, obtaining measurements and documenting their health before being quickly released back into the ocean.

For the students, the opportunity provided a rare chance to study one of the ocean's most iconic creatures up close, while gaining hands-on experience with leading JCU researchers in the field.

Opportunities to work alongside world-leading researchers give JCU students valuable experience beyond the classroom.

Professor Mark Hamann, Director of JCU’s Turtle Research Group, says hands-on learning opportunities are an important part of the work carried out by JCU, and fully understands the excitement of working with sea turtles.

"I think it's because they are not something you see every day," Professor Hamann says.

"People are generally fascinated with all components of nature, especially the things they perceive to be rare or hard to find."

Prof Hamann said working alongside researchers gives students the chance to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings while contributing to important conservation outcomes.

Last year, researchers from JCU's Turtle Health Research Centre released a group of juvenile loggerhead turtles into the waters off Bowen after years of monitoring their health and development.

Fitted with satellite trackers before release, the juveniles are helping researchers better understand how endangered sea turtles transition to life in the wild, providing valuable information that could support future conservation efforts.

Loggerhead turtles remain under considerable pressure from threats including habitat loss, marine debris and interactions with fisheries. As a result, ongoing research plays a vital role in understanding how best to protect and manage turtle populations.

JCU Academic Coordinator Jessica Grimm was a key driver of the project since day one, having collected health and growth data, along with funding, permits and the loggerheads from Mon Repos.

“This release marks the culmination of a landmark study on loggerhead turtle health. It’s an exciting milestone,” Ms Grimm said. “We're really interested to see what they're going to do, where they're going to go.

“There's very few studies of that and it’s still a bit of a mystery.”

Central to sea turtle research at JCU is the Caraplace facility, which was established in 2016 to support detailed research into sea turtle health under controlled conditions. Purpose-built spaces allow researchers to observe sea turtles in ways that are often impossible in the wild.

Each sea turtle is housed individually, with room to swim, feed and rest on submerged platforms. Conditions are designed to replicate a near-natural environment while allowing ongoing monitoring of health, behaviour and development.

An outdoor extension known as the Outer Shell provides a secure nursery where sea turtles can bask in natural sunlight, while retractable shade sails help regulate temperature and protect them from predators.

The facility has supported a range of turtle health and conservation projects over the years, helping researchers build a better understanding of how these remarkable animals grow, develop and adapt.

Why it matters

Loggerhead turtles are currently listed as endangered in Australia under both Commonwealth (EPBC Act) and Queensland (Nature Conservation Act 1992) legislation.

Overfishing along with predation of nesting sites by species such as foxes and dogs contributed to a severe decline in numbers of loggerhead turtles, in waters off northern and eastern Australia, from the 1970s.

Internationally, they are officially listed as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.

“They’re under considerable pressure,” Prof Hamann says. “Outside of Australia, international fishing is certainly one, and plastic pollution is another.”

While individual research projects and field trips may come to an end, the work of understanding and protecting sea turtles continues.

For JCU students, that means opportunities to take part in meaningful research that extends well beyond the classroom.

Whether it's collecting data, monitoring sea turtle health, assisting with conservation projects or helping release sea turtles back into the wild, students have the chance to contribute to research that is making a real difference.

And sometimes, it also means spending a day up close with some of Australia's most remarkable creatures.

Visit the Turtle Health Research Centre‘s social media pages to learn more about its activities.