Gladstone’s coastline is seeing encouraging results for marine turtle conservation, with ongoing fox control efforts significantly reducing nest predation during nesting season.
Recent activities carried out as part of the 2025 Coastal Fox Control Program have focused on key turtle nesting areas in Agnes Water, Boyne Island and Tannum Sands. The program is designed to reduce the number of European red foxes in coastal zones, where they are known to dig up turtle nests and prey on eggs and hatchlings.
The program runs in line with turtle nesting season and is delivered through a collaboration between Gladstone Regional Council and a number of land managers and conservation partners, including Boyne Smelters Limited, Queensland Alumina Limited and Bush Heritage Australia. A qualified fox control specialist carries out the work using humane and targeted methods such as soft jaw trapping and thermal shooting.
Recent control activities resulted in the removal of several foxes across the Boyne Tannum and Agnes Water areas, with early reports from turtle conservation volunteers indicating reduced fox activity near nesting beaches.
Since the Coastal Fox Control Program began in 2021, turtle nest predation rates have dropped by around sixty percent. In Agnes Water alone, fox raids on nests have reduced from one in four nests before the program began to approximately one in ten nests in recent seasons. This reduction is estimated to have saved close to one hundred turtle nests, equating to thousands of hatchlings making it safely to the ocean.
The benefits of the program extend beyond marine turtles. Reducing fox numbers in coastal areas also supports inland ecosystems, helping protect ground nesting birds, reptiles, shorebirds and small mammals.
The fox control program remains ongoing, with further activities planned as nesting season continues.
For more information about wildlife protection programs in the Gladstone region, visit Gladstone Regional Council’s website.