Olive Ridley turtle in the Oceanic Shoals Marine Park

This Olive Rideley (Lepidochelys olivacea) turtle was photographed during a BRUVS survey in the Oceanic Shoals Marine Park in September 2012. Olive Ridely turtles are one of the most abundant species of sea turtles globally, however they are considered Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and listed as Endangered under the Australian EPBC Act. Their listing is due to significant declines in global populations. In Australia few surveys on this species have been conducted, and we still have a lot to learn about where these turtles, their population size, distribution and behaviour.