Exmouth District High School – Turtle excursion

On the 13th November students from Exmouth District High School got an opportunity to participate in real-world science when they observed CSIRO scientists Mat Vanderklift and Rich Pillans and UWA PhD student Daphne Oh measuring and tagging endangered turtles as part of the Ningaloo Outlook project. This work is being conducted to answer questions about the mating and nesting migrations of turtles that have their home ranges within the lagoons of Ningaloo and is part of a broader study that includes estimating age and abundance. Ningaloo Outlook also has research themes on shallow reef ecosystems, mesophotic ecosystems and whale sharks.

The students, from years 9 and 10, observed how scientists measure, take biopsies and tag turtles while receiving lectures about how biology, physics and chemistry are used to answer complex ecological questions that provide information to conservation managers. As a bonus, the students also received a presentation on whale shark biology on the beach before the day ended. The students thoroughly enjoyed their day and gave an excellent thank you speech at the end (with one student remarking that he had never absorbed so much information in a single day). They were boasting about the information they had learnt during the time with our team.

The Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area is on the remote western coast of Australia where the corals of the 300 km long fringing coral reef are close enough to swim to off the beach in some places. The combination of the arid landscape, underwater topography and oceanic currents creates a unique environment making this stunning region one of the ideal places for large megafauna, including whale sharks and turtles, to visit. The reef is comprised of shallow lagoons and deeper offshore waters creating a diverse array of habitats, creating a home for a range of marine life. Ningaloo was proclaimed a World Heritage Area in 2011 — with the nomination drawing on CSIRO research since 2005 — and turtles are among the Outstanding Universal Values that were recognised.

CSIRO has invested in marine research at Ningaloo since 2005, and our work has generated numerous insights that have generated deep impact. We have partnered with EDHS since 2106, with activities from art with primary school students to science on the beach with year 9 and 10 students. We have taught and mentored hundreds of students and the partnership is valued by the school and the local community. The Woodside-CSIRO Ningaloo Outlook (Phase 2) marine research partnership is investing AUD$7.0 million over five years to May 2025 into further developing new knowledge about the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area. The 4 themes of Ningaloo Outlook aim to increase our ecological understanding of the Deep Reefs, Shallow Reefs, Whale Sharks and Turtles in the area.