Imagine life as a marine turtle, swimming the ocean currents freely, feeding on the seas rich resources after hatching from an egg laid somewhere near Nhulunbuy. Over time you mature to an age when you too, may one day lay eggs on that same beach, even as much as fifty years later.

Then imagine approaching what appears to be a large floating mat of seaweed, one of your favourite foods. You see other turtles staying very close to this floating mat and you swim to investigate. But when you arrive, something about this mat is not right, none of the other turtles are moving. You swim closer for a look, and first your front flipper goes through a loop, and in your struggle to free it, your head gets stuck and then more flippers. You somehow manage to get your head up for a quick breath as the mat is thrown around in the surf, and this continues for a week, struggling for every breath under the heavy weight of what turns out to be a 'ghost net', discarded by irresponsible fishermen somewhere in south east asia. Eventually, at high tide, the surf throws you onto a remote beach. You are upside down, in the burning sun.

The next time you will receive life giving water is twelve hours away at the next high tide, if you are lucky. The weight of the net around your neck is strangling you, and there is no more circulation in your front flipper. As the tide recedes, you are still trapped upside down, tangled in a net with other marine turtles who have already perished. It is in this position that marine turtles are commonly found by Dhimurru and Parks and Wildlife Rangers during turtle recovery flights using the Laynhapuy Aviation helicopter - conducted weekly with the onset of the Dhimurru (south east) winds. Luckily for some, it is just in the nick of time, the turtles are able to be freed from the nets and released alive. But for others, the struggle has been too much, they are already dead.

So far this year, 33 turtles have been removed from nets both by Rangers and by concerned Nhulunbuy residents. So far there has only been two flights and one beach walk, but already the figure are equal to the number of turtles taken from nets for the whole of last dry season’s survey period (April to July). Since Dhimurru started the project in 1996, well over two hundred turtles have been found in ghost nets, with only about half of those surviving.

Turtle Recovery project leader, Milkayngu Mununggurr is extremely concerned about the apparent increase of both nets and strandings. "This is a problem which largely originates a long way from our country, and the evidence and information we collect during these flights is vital to assist with tackling the problem at its source." he said.

This evidence includes the collection of net samples, skin tissue for DNA studies, measurements of turtles, species information and photographs. Live turtles are also tagged before release to increase knowledge of their movements.

Dhimurru has had an overwhelming response from concerned Nhulunbuy residents wishing to know how they can help tackle the problem. The public is encouraged to help by releasing any live turtles they find, but also collecting the all important data. This includes collecting a sample of the net, a photograph of the turtle if possible and identifying the turtle species. Specific measurements of the turtles shell are also valuable and if people wish to get further involved they are encouraged to come into Dhimurru to get an identification chart and some data sheets. If possible, the net should be dragged above the high tide line, and then reported to Dhimurru.

Another way that the public can get involved is to participate in one of the turtle recovery flights. A donation of $200 per person, which goes directly into assisting with costs, the public can fly parts of the remote Arnhem land coastline south of Nhulunbuy and assist the Rangers in removing the turtles from the nets. Seats are limited for each flight, so if you are interested, please contact Dhimurru on 8987 3992 or email on dhimurruinfo (one word) @dhimurru.com.au as soon as possible. People wanting to participate in a flight will need to be available at short notice when tides and flights are coordinated.

Dhimurru would like to acknowledge its partners assisting with this project including, WWF, Dept of Environment and Heritage, National Heritage Trust, Laynhapuy Aviation, Gumatj Association, and the local community

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