The 2025-26 NSW TurtleWatch season has delivered unprecedented outcomes, with a record-breaking year for marine turtle nesting and volunteer-led nest monitoring across New South Wales resulting in over 1300 threatened turtle hatchlings making it to the sea.
The 2025-26 marine turtle nesting season in NSW, saw 20 successful nesting events recorded from the Tweed to Shoalhaven area, demonstrating that turtles are utilising much of the NSW coastline and highlighting how important it is to have the entire state on the look out for turtles.
Severe coastal erosion due to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, storm activity and king tides created difficult nesting conditions across much of the NSW coastline.
As a result, TurtleWatch and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service incubated nine nests ( a total of 995 eggs) under controlled conditions that mimic natural nests.
NSW TurtleWatch also recorded its highest levels of participation since the program began, with volunteers contributing more time and covering more coastline than ever before.
Compared with the previous season, volunteers added an extra 665 hours of patrol effort and walked an additional 6,160 kilometres along the NSW coast.
This increased effort ensured that vulnerable turtle nests , including those occurring closer to or below the high tide line, had the best possible chance of being reported and protected appropriately.
The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has teamed up with Australian Seabird Rescue to develop NSW TurtleWatch, a citizen science program involving volunteers to collect valuable data for marine turtles nesting in NSW and their potential threats.
Quotes attributed to National Parks and Wildlife Service Team Leader Adelaide Dedden
"NSW TurtleWatch volunteers delivered the most comprehensive season of beach monitoring in the program's history directly detecting 13 of the 20 nesting events, with the remainder reported by the public-highlighting the importance of both community awareness and dedicated monitoring."
"More than 1300 hatchlings made it to the sea this year thanks to the efforts of everyone involved."
"The increase in turtle nesting highlights the importance of NSW's marine turtle nesting habitat and reinforces the critical role of TurtleWatch in detecting and managing nesting activity."
"These intensive efforts reflect the growing challenges posed by dynamic coastal environments and impacts from climatic events."
Quotes attributed to Turtle Watch Project Officer Merryn Dunlevy
"As marine turtle nesting activity continues to increase in NSW, ongoing monitoring, strong volunteer engagement and adaptive management strategies will be essential to support conservation outcomes in a changing climate."
"The strength of NSW TurtleWatch lies in its ability to empower communities to play an active role in marine turtle conservation each nesting season. By bringing together volunteers, partner organisations, government agencies, volunteers, citizen scientists and local communities, the program creates a statewide network dedicated to protecting marine turtles. As more people take on the role of TurtleWatch each year, we are detecting more nesting turtles than ever before, demonstrating the incredible impact of a community united by a shared purpose".
If you would like to find out more information about the NSW Turtle Watch project, email [email protected], or visit Australian Seabird Rescue's webpage.
