Sea turtles swimming – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Gail Johnson
There is worrying news on Florida sea turtles in this week’s Don’t Trash Our Treasure. Despite an increase in nesting numbers, human pressure continues to pose a hazard to adult turtles.
Conservationists are cautioning that not all of these lovely critters survive and that an increasing number of them are becoming entangled in marine cables.
It’s more than I’ve ever seen in 13 years, which is why I’m raising the alarm,” Bette Zirkelbach, general manager of The Turtle Hospital in Marathon, stated.
Sea turtles in South Florida are at risk because it occurs far too frequently, according to conservationists.
“A change has occurred,” Zirkelbach remarked. “Getting an average of one per week is not a coincidence. I had two in two days last week.
Zirkelbach has been recording a troubling trend over the past few months: an increase in the number of sea turtles that are rescued after being discovered entangled in trap lines.
“We have had eight entanglements since February 18,” she stated. “That’s one a week on average.”
The rise was confirmed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which issued the following statement:
“So far this year, we have recorded 16 of these entanglements (in line that are at least 0.5 cm in diameter).” Up to April, the previous five-year average was 10. Thus, certainly, entanglements of sea turtles have been higher than usual this year thus far.
Zirkelbach questioned, “If we’re seeing one every week, how many are out there that aren’t being reported?”
She worries that some sea turtles die and are never discovered. Even the largest and strongest species may become severely restrained or even immobilized by the entanglements.
“It basically gets entangled and drowns in the trap line because it can’t come up to breathe due to the tide,” Zirkelbach added.
According to Zirkelbach, she has recorded at least four turtle deaths from tangled lines in the last four months.
“We don’t know that information, but I’m guessing it’s commercial because there are so many,” she said. To be honest, it’s challenging to remove the colors and the number off the trap. It is our only option to save the turtle, even if we are actually at sea and the conditions are not ideal.
Jerome Young, the executive director of the Florida Keys Commercial Fisherman’s Association, resisted, arguing that entanglements are uncommon, in a statement provided to Local 10.
Turtle populations have increased exponentially, according to commercial fishermen. This comes as Florida’s state-enforced trap reduction program continues to reduce the number of commercial fishing traps each year,” the statement said.
According to Zirklebach, there is no evidence of an increase in adult turtles, even though nesting numbers may be rising.
“We’re also observing that fewer hatchlings are venturing out to sea,” she stated. “Your hatchling success ratio is what that indicates.”
All commercial lines and traps must to have been removed from the water by May 1.
Even though the stone crab season ends in October, the issue of irresponsibly discarded fishing gear remains significant.
Consider Oliver, a young green sea turtle that was recently returned to the water after being rescued. He was discovered fully entangled in fishing line off a long key.
He was discovered by Greg and Kaleah Keen while they were cleaning up rubbish in the mangroves.
Kaleah Keen stated, “He was tangled up.” His flippers were braided with fishing line.
Greg Keen went on to say, “He had three or four turns around each flipper, and I think three around his neck.”
Oliver is among the fortunate ones. In addition to swiftly releasing him by severing the fishing line, the Keens also promptly contacted and dispatched The Turtle Hospital.
Kaleah Keen stated, “I don’t think he would have made it had we not gotten him.”
Oliver had finally recovered enough to return home after a month in treatment.
In order to reduce the frequency of rescues like this one, Zirklebach thinks that by sharing these survival stories, people will become more concerned and aware of their own impact on the marine ecosystem.
“I have a gut feeling that people want to act morally,” she remarked. “They’ll do better if they realize that these long trap lines are literally killing our marine life by entangling it.”
The fact that this isn’t simply about commercial fishermen should not be overlooked. There are numerous rogue lines and traps in existence.
Everyone who enjoys recreation by the water should be aware of their fishing equipment. Our maritime ecology is impacted by the trash you produce at the beach or on your boat and how you dispose of it.
As we’ve seen, reckless actions can have fatal results.
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