Glenn McFarlane – Australian Government Individual Landcarer Award

Project Profile

Issues

Through his role with the CVA and his passion for turtle conservation, Glenn McFarlane has lead the creation and delivery of new marine debris survey sites around Darwin Harbour, secured a Federal Government grant to monitor nesting turtles and marine debris and increased public awareness through educational materials and the media. Glenn is committed to the continued development of conservation and research monitoring programs for the Northern Territory.

Project Detail

Darwin’s Glenn McFarlane, a local sea turtle researcher and conservationist, has been nominated for a National Landcare Award for his role as the driving force behind sea turtle conservation and research, working with non-profit organisations, governments and private ventures in Australia and Central America.

Glenn has lead the creation and delivery of new marine debris survey sites around Darwin Harbour, secured a Federal Government grant to monitor nesting turtles and marine debris and increased public awareness to the turtle’s plight.

Sea turtles in the Northern Territory face a number of threats including inadvertent bycatch by the fishing industry, marine debris entanglement, habitat loss, predation of eggs and human interference of nesting and foraging (feeding) turtles. As Marine Species Manager for Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) since 1999, Glenn is focused on reducing these threats through the development of new programs, education and awareness and the collection of scientific data on the nesting of green and flatback turtles.

After completing extensive sea turtle training whilst living in Costa Rica, Glenn brought back to Australia a wealth of knowledge and a fresh perspective on how conservation and research activities should be implemented to achieve greater results. The conservation and research activities headed up by Glenn for CVA assist in improving community understanding of the biology of sea turtles through school presentations, volunteer and staff training on best practice handling protocols and media representation around the programs and ensuing results. Under Glenn’s management, CVA staff are now completing training in best practice handling and interaction, to assist in leading turtle monitoring patrols at night as part of CVA’s various programs.

Glen’s main focus of conservation and research is through the annual nesting monitoring program in Cobourg Peninsula and a series of marine debris surveys around Darwin Harbour. A key feature of the Cobourg Peninsula green sea turtle monitoring program has been the satellite tracking of two turtles since October 2008 with the results viewed publically. Following the identification of Darwin Harbour as a ‘Priority Coastal Hotspot’ by the Federal Government, Glenn was successful in obtaining a Federal Government grant to continue the monitoring of nesting turtles and marine debris through satellite tagging and tracking during 2008 and 2009.

With a 13-year background in media prior to joining CVA, Glenn has helped to generate widespread public awareness and attention around sea turtle conservation issues. Glenn’s expertise has now seen him invited to join the Recovery Team for the Government’s Marine Turtle Recovery Plan for Western Australia 2009-2016.

Through his commitment and passion, Glenn is leading sea turtle conservation in the Northern Territory, driving research, education and awareness activities across the state.

Glenn McFarlane is one of 88 finalists in the National Landcare Awards to be announced in Canberra on 24 June 2010. Commencing in 1991, the Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and groups that make a valuable contribution to the land and coast where they live and work.

Photography

Ghost net removal