Novel tech unveils habitat use by turtles in Roebuck Bay

by the Government of Western Australia’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
September 17, 2025

In a world-first breakthrough, scientists have used high-tech turtle trackers, complete with motion sensors, GPS and video cameras, to uncover exactly where and when flatback turtles go to feed and rest in Broome’s Yawuru Nagulagun Roebuck Bay Marine Park.

By analysing this data with a cutting-edge method, researchers have created behaviour-specific habitat models to understand which parts of the bay turtles prefer for foraging and which for resting. This is the first time such detailed habitat suitability mapping has been done for a marine species and provides a new tool for the dynamic management of threatened species.

Lead author Dr Jenna Hounslow, a Postdoctoral Fellow at Murdoch University, said it was a major leap forward in conservation science.

“By identifying the locations and the exact environmental conditions (such as tides, currents and depth) that marine turtles prefer for different underwater activities, we can provide smarter and more targeted protection of habitat,” Dr Hounslow said.

Keep reading: https://www.dbca.wa.gov.au/news/2025/novel-tech-unveils-habitat-use-turtles-roebuck-bay

Read the Ecological Applications paper: https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/eap.70095