@article {389, title = {Ningaloo Turtle Program annual report 2008-2009}, year = {2009}, month = {06/2009}, pages = {1-67}, institution = {Ningaloo Turtle Program}, address = {Exmouth}, abstract = {The Ningaloo Turtle Program (NTP) was established in 2002 as a collaborative project between Cape Conservation Group Inc (CCG), World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-Australia and DEC-Exmouth District. The primary aim of the program is to promote the long-term survival of turtle populations within the Ningaloo region by collecting long-term trend data on marine turtle population size. For the purpose of the program, the Ningaloo region is divided spatially into a hierarchical classification. There are four divisions within Ningaloo; North West (NW Cape) Cape division, Cape Range division, Bundera /Ningaloo division, and Coral Bay division. Each division is then further divided into sections and subsections. The 2008-2009 turtle monitoring season commenced on the 7 December 2008 and operated until the 1 March 2009. Intensive monitoring ceased on the 7 February 2009 and a weekend of monitoring was carried-out at the end of February to determine nesting activity at this time. No monitoring was conducted on several days within the intensive survey period. Volunteers" monitored sections of the Ningaloo coastline within each division of the hierarchical classification (with the exception of the Bundera division), in order to identify turtle species; assess the abundance of turtle activities; record turtle mortalities; identify nest disturbance and predation; and conduct turtle rescues when necessary. This season a total of 60 volunteers assisted with monitoring, training, data entry and office administration, contributing 4427 hours equating to $88,537 (based on a pay rate of $20/hour). Throughout the NTP operational seasons 2002-2009, volunteers have contributed at total of 38193 hours.}, keywords = {biodiversity, Ningaloo, turtles}, issn = {Annual report 2008-2009}, url = {http://www.ningalooturtles.org.au/media_reports.html}, attachments = {http://ningaloo-atlas.org.au/sites/default/files/Ningaloo turtle program annual report 2008_09.pdf}, author = {Bool, N and Whiting, A and Gourlay, T and Mau, R} }