The discovery of a sea turtle nest for the first time in the breeding season has prompted a rescue mission and the launch of a campaign to protect the endangered species.
The nest was recently found on the north coast of New South Wales, and was so close to the water’s edge, the eggs had to be moved to save them from being drowned by waves and tides.
Loggerhead turtles are critically endangered, with very few females nesting in NSW, making every egg precious. Green turtles are listed as a vulnerable species.
Meryn Dunleavy from TurtleWatch NSW said every nest reported would be protected “and the commitment and care of our coastal communities will be essential to ensure these nests survive”.
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“We are asking beachgoers to become citizen scientists and monitor local beaches along the NSW coast, from the Tweed to Batemans Bay, for sea turtle nests,” she said.
“Walk your local beach early in the morning along the high tide line – where sea turtles generally nest during the night from dusk to dawn – look for turtle tracks in the sand.”
After a member of the public discovered the first nest, trained and licensed TurtleWatch staff carefully placed the eggs in one of the refrigerated box incubators used during last season’s incubation success.
There were successful hatchings from 18 sea turtle nests last season.
Earlier in 2025, ex-tropical Cyclone Alfred reshaped large areas of the New South Wales north coast, causing many beaches to lose gently raised sandy beaches.
Some dunes have been cut off by several metres, reducing suitable nesting habitat by creating steep slopes that nesting females cannot climb.
Thanks to the turtle team’s vigilance in February, National Parks and Wildlife Service and TurtleWatch personnel rescued more than 1,000 eggs from nine nests before the hurricane.
After hatching, they were released into their original nest sites, with 1,020 nestlings swimming freely.
Promptly reporting turtle tracks and low nests and community awareness is key to protecting the eggs and giving them the best chance of hatching successfully.
The tracks are usually 80 to 100 cm wide and can sometimes be confused with tire tracks.
TurtleWatch needs volunteers to help with the nesting season, which runs from November to March along the NSW coast.