Agnes Water Turtles is an active member of Queensland’s Marine Turtle Stranding Response Network.

Our trained local volunteers respond to reports of stranded, injured, or deceased marine turtles in the Agnes Water and 1770 area. Working closely with wildlife carers and rehabilitation centres, we assist in rescue, data collection, and transport of turtles in need.

What is a marine turtle stranding?

A stranding is any incident where a sea turtle is found on land or in waters adjacent to land, and it’s either dead or alive but showing signs of distress or inability to function normally. This can include:

• Dead turtles: A turtle washed ashore, deceased
• Injured turtles: Turtles with visible wounds or other injuries
• Sick or ill turtles: Turtles exhibiting lethargy, listlessness, or other signs of illness
• Turtles exhibiting unusual behaviour: Turtles that are disorientated, struggling to swim or dive, or displaying other abnormal behaviour.

Basking turtles

Not all turtles found on shore and in rock pools are sick. Green sea turtles are known to bask on land to regulate body temperature, rest, avoid predators or persistent mates during mating season. Basking is also thought to improve immune and digestive function. Basking is a normal behaviour, the turtles are alert and responsive and likely to return to the ocean on the next high tide. 

What to do if you see a Stranded Turtle

If you find a stranded turtle: DO NOT place them back in the water. The turtle likely needs help. 

• Please stay with live turtles while contacting responders. Share the Location (GPS coordinates if possible) and Photos 

Please report strandings to:

• Agnes Water beaches –  live or dead call 0418 650 414
  We liaise with directly with Marine Turtle Rehabilitation Centres

• Other beaches or offshore in Gladstone area
  • Live –  call Quoin Island Rehab  0408 431 304
  • Dead – report to QWildlife via the QWildLife app or call  1300 130 372 (option 1)

Why reporting matters

Reporting dead turtles matters because each record helps build a clearer picture of threats to marine turtle populations. Stranding responders complete a Stranding and Mortality Report, which is uploaded to the StrandNet database. Queensland Parks and Wildlife staff verify the details, and the data is analysed to identify the distribution, frequency, and causes of mortalities. These insights help inform the management and protection of marine turtles.

Turtle Rehabilitation

Quoin Island Rehabilitation Centre (QITRC) in Gladstone Harbour is dedicated to rehabilitating sick and injured marine turtles from across the region. Their centre is run with the help of community volunteers.

QITRC has rehabilitated and released many turtles in Agnes water and 1770 over the years. It takes money and time to rehabilitate turtles, please support their fund raising initiatives.

Our Local Response team

A dedicated group of local volunteers works along the beaches of 1770 and Agnes Water to rescue stranded turtles, playing a vital role in protecting our marine wildlife.

Agnes Conservation Community’s Agnes Water Turtle webpages are proudly supported by Gladstone Regional Council’s Grassroots Fund.