Dispersal Patterns and Swimming Behaviour of Hatchling Flatback Turtles

Very little is known about flatback turtle hatchlings. Unlike other sea turtle hatchlings, the flatback turtle does not swim into the open ocean for part of its life before returning to coastal waters as a juvenile turtle. Instead, flatback hatchlings remain in coastal waters close to shore. We know this as hatchlings and small turtles are found washed up on beaches during storms and cyclones, which show us they must be very close to the coastline. But we don’t know where they live during these years and what effect humans are having on them if they are so close.

This study uses a specially designed float and transmitter and allows a biologist in a sea kayak to follow hatchlings at a distance. We can track the direction they swim when they leave the beach, how fast they swim, if they follow local currents, and the effect of wind and waves on the hatchling’s swimming.

This study is being done by Dr Andrea Phillott, one of the scientists who works with Sea Turtle Foundation. Andrea is funded by the Australian Academy of Sciences to do this project and has been tracking hatchlings since in January 2009.