In-water Habitat

Pendoley Environmental has successfully attached and gathered data from satellite transmitters on flatback and green turtles nesting at Barrow Island and Mundabullangana station continuously since 2001. The results have been used to provide the first detailed picture of marine turtle internesting, migratory and foraging habitat usage for these species in Western Australia. These data provide robust information with which to plan and manage dredging and construction programs around marine turtle habitats. Pendoley Environmental has 10 years experience in managing marine turtle satellite tracking projects, deploying the first satellite transmitter to be used on a Western Australian marine turtle in 1999.

Deployment of state-of-the-art GPS satellite transmitters on flatback turtles nesting at Cemetery Beach in 2008 has provided high quality spatial data regarding in-water marine turtle habitat usage. These data provide foundation for planning of proposed regional dredging programs. The program, carried out with the assistance of local Port Hedland residents, was widely reported in the local media, engaging local primary school students in a project related educational program.