The populations of native species in the North East – the broad-shelled turtle (endangered), the Murray River turtle (vulnerable), and the eastern long-neck turtle – are unfortunately declining.

The Victorian government has banned opera house nets from July 2019, with a trade-in for “wildlife-friendly” open-top lift nets planned.

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning forest and wildlife officer Kirsty O’Reilly said both natural and human causes had an impact.

“Drought contributes to it, but it’s mainly human impacts – degrading water quality, rubbish, fishing – they can get caught in nets and drown,” she said.

“Foxes also dig up their nests and eat their eggs.” 

The Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife chief executive Ian Darbyshire said the population of three native freshwater species of Murray River turtles had dropped by more than 90 per cent over the past 40 years.

“Turtles have plodded through 220 million years of natural selection and have emerged as a great evolutionary survivor,” he said.

“It is human intervention that has caused the dramatic decline in the turtles occupying the Murray River and without dramatic intervention these native species will be extinct by the end of the 21^st Century.”

Ms O’Reilly said residents should dispose of rubbish and fishing equipment correctly, slow down when they see turtles crossing roads and report environmental crime to Crime Stoppers (1800 333 000).