Of the seven species of sea turtles, all are classified as vulnerable, endangered or on the edge of extinction. One of the main reasons for this is the degradation of their nesting spots.

Raine Island is also the most important seabird rookery in the Great Barrier Reef— home to 20,000 breeding pairs of Frigates and Boobies. Their survival is intimately tied to that of the turtle colony, because without young turtles to feed on, seabird numbers would collapse, too.