Saving the ocean one sea turtle at a time

Photo By Senior Chief Petty Officer Sarah Foster | Sea World curator Dan Conklin handles an endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtle into a proper container. Five aquariums and wildlife recovery facilities including Sea World, offloaded 35 endangered sea turtles from a Coast Guard C-130J in Orlando, Fla., that originated from Cape Cod, Mass., Dec. 7, 2012. A record number of turtle Òcold strandingsÓ in the Northeast coast prompted the emergency flight. The Coast Guard works with federal and state partners in times of need such as when animals are stranded or entangled. This joint effort involved close coordination with the following organizations and agencies: NOAA Fisheries Northeast Region Stranding Network, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, New England Aquarium, Sea World Orlando, Mote Marine Lab, Volusia Marine Science Center, Loggerhead Marinelife Center, and the Florida Aquarium. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Sarah B. Foster  

VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES

12.07.2012

Story by Senior Chief Petty Officer Sarah Foster 

U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area

PORTSMOUTH, Va. – The crew of a Coast Guard C-130J fixed wing aircraft deployed for a special mission Friday flying more than 2,000 miles out of its home base in Elizabeth City, N.C., bound for Cape Cod, Mass., to pick up 35 endangered sea turtles.

Fifteen threatened Loggerheads and 20 endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles were dropped off at Orlando, Fla., and was picked up by several wildlife recovery centers and aquariums, including SeaWorld, Orlando.

By helping to protect and rescue endangered and threatened marine wildlife, the Coast Guard supports its living marine resource missions. The preservation of sea turtles is vital to the health of our oceans and fisheries.

This year, a record number of 150 “cold-stunned” endangered sea turtles suffering from hypothermia were rescued by the New England Aquarium Marine Rescue Program volunteers throughout the Northeast coast. Running out of room at all of the Northeast rescue centers, the aquarium turned to the NOAA Fisheries Northeast Region Stranding Network and the Coast Guard for help to move the reptiles south to the Sunshine State for months-long recovery and rehabilitation.

• Date Taken: 12.07.2012
• Date Posted: 12.10.2012 11:36
• Story ID: 99030
• Location: VIRGINIA, US