Mapoon Land and Sea Rangers at the WCTTAA meeting with organiser and Cape York Natural Resource Management biodiversity project officer Dr Manuela Fischer, and Cape York NRM chief executive officer Pip Schroor. Photo: Christine Howes.
Key achievements including the removal of more than 4,500 feral pigs and the monitoring of almost 4,000 marine turtle nests have been celebrated at the Western Cape Turtle Threat Abatement Alliance’s (WCTTAA) annual post-nesting season meeting.
The meeting, which was hosted by Cape York Natural Resource Management (NRM) in Cairns in late March, brought together 50 representatives from six WCTTAA member groups, and state and federal government agencies, along with other organisations, stakeholders and contractors committed to turtle conservation and feral pest management in the region.
Cape York NRM’s WCTTAA co-ordinator, Dr Manuela Fischer, emphasised the importance of the annual gathering.
“We hold this meeting each year after the turtle nesting season on the western Cape ends,” she said.
“It’s an opportunity to report findings, discuss challenges and solutions of each ranger group individually, and plan for the next season and future opportunities as an alliance.”
Pormpuraaw Land and Sea Ranger Kiren Tarpencha said it was fantastic to hear feedback from each ranger group about the WCTTAA program.
“’We’ve heard from other groups, how they’re doing and how their programs run differently or similar to ours,” he said.
“At the end of the day, we’re all doing the same job, but there’s a bit of difference between the groups.”
Marietta Matasia, who made history in 2023 by becoming the first female ranger co-ordinator for Nanum Wungthim Land and Sea Rangers, said the meeting provided a centralised opportunity for the member groups to share knowledge and processes.
“We are always happy to share our ideas and learn from each other,” she said.
“Listening to the other groups and their on-ground experiences helps us work together on the issues and challenges that we all face, improve the way we do things and share our success stories.”
The achievements of the WCTTAA program were recognised at the 2024 Australian Biosecurity Awards, where it received the inaugural First Nations Award for Excellence in Biosecurity.
Cape York NRM chief executive officer Pip Schroor said Cape York NRM had supported the WCTTAA since 2013.
“We are enormously proud of the work we do with this program,” she said.
“The rangers’ dedication to turtle conservation and biosecurity is inspiring, and we’re honoured to support their efforts.”
The WCTTAA is a partnership of six Indigenous land and sea managers from the Northern Peninsula Area, Mapoon, Napranum, Pormpuraaw, Aurukun and Kowanyama, who work together for the protection of marine turtles from nest predation along the western Cape York coastline.
