Our Emergency Management

Entanglements

Since COVID -19 we have seen a huge rise in entanglements of birds.

For 29 years Australian Seabird & Turtle Rescue has been rescuing and rehabilitating seabirds, shorebirds and sea turtles that are suffering from fishing line entanglements, hook imbedding or hook and line ingestion.

Birds will typically suffer from feather, nerve, bone, and skin damage as a result of entanglement and imbedding. If lucky enough to be rescued there is still a long recovery ahead as they present themselves with exhaustion, dehydration, and starvation, and in this condition will not do well with captive stress.

Sea turtles also suffer as a result of entanglements from discarded fishing line and discarded fishing nets (ghost nets). Sadly, due to the life cycle of a turtle, if entangled in a ghost net they will already have drowned by the time they have stranded. A common injury that we see is fishing line embedded around the flipper which can cut into the bone and may result in a loss of limb.

Although some of these injuries can be treatable, the goal would be that we don’t have to.

DONT CUT THE LINE – call us and we will tell you what to do.

Marine Plastic

Tonnes of marine debris enter the oceans annually and is an increasing problem. Every year we see 100s of seabirds, shorebirds and marine turtles suffering as a result of negligence. Australian Seabird & Turtle Rescue  aims to not only rescue the animals that have been impacted by plastic, but to reduce the amount of plastic that enters our oceans through education and beach clean ups.

A few tips to reduce plastic in your everyday life

  • Take your own shopping bag
  • Reusable coffee cups
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Say no to straws
  • Say no to Helium Balloons
  • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Marine Oil and Chemical Spill Contingency

Under a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Environment Planning and Industry, and National Parks and Wildlife Australian Seabird & Turtle Rescue Inc. operates as a supporting agency.