During their regular turtle spotting sunset cruise, Whisper Cruises discovered what appeared to be an injured turtle floating off Cannonvale Beach about 100m from Pigeon Island.
Upon closer inspection they discovered it had sadly died. They retrieved the critically endangered Hawksbill turtle and took it to the VMR boat ramp where Libby Edge, from Eco Barge Clean Seas and the turtle hospital, took care of the body.
It was evident that the turtle had been struck by something, though not a propeller.
Tragic events such as these emphasise the importance for boaters to observe the "Go Slow for Turtles and Dugongs" buoys recently installed by Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ).
These buoys are crucial for safeguarding these vulnerable species from preventable harm while they feed on seagrass.
With ample open water available for faster speeds, boaters are urged to reserve those areas for high-speed activities and to slow down near seagrass beds, which are critical feeding and breeding grounds for turtles and dugongs.
The poor injured turtle which was collected by Whisper Cruises