As Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network Volunteers Chris and I were able to leap into action when Chris heard of the reappearance of the dead Leatherback Turtle that was sadly pot rope entangled here off Newquay ten days previously.( see previous blog). We alerted CWTMSN and Atlantic diver went out to tow the Turtle to safe waters and prevent a shipping hazard. it was later agreed to bring it into Newquay Harbour for recording and removal. British Divers Marine Life Rescue Marine Mammal Medics joined the crew of volunteers and used their expeience of a previous turtle stranding to assist its recording of vital measurements which will help in identifying its sex, age and which rookery it came from. Full press release and contacts below:

“Enormous rare turtle is recorded in Newquay”

A rare leatherback sea turtle was towed into Newquay Harbour by Diving and Newquay Sea Safaris boat Atlantic Diver on Thursday 4/08/2011, after it was spotted by a tripping boat earlier in the day just over one mile from Newquay Harbour and was considered to be a shipping hazard.

The turtle was first reported at sea 9 days previously after, sadly, having become entangled in a pot rope just off St Agnes, where it was believed to have drowned, but the body then disappeared. The right flipper had been removed to disentangle it and this later helped support the theory that this was the same turtle. It was approximately 2 metres in length, probably the largest ever recorded in Cornwall, and is thought to be male.

A large team of volunteers from Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network and British Divers Marine Life Rescue retrieved and recorded the turtle, which, due to its huge size and weight presented quite a challenge and attracted a large crowd of people keen to learn more about the animal. Measurements and photos were taken for the Strandings Network’s database and these will also contribute to UK turtle strandings records database. Unfortunately it was too degraded to be taken for post-mortem examination, but samples were taken for DNA research and were sent to the Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Polwhele, in Truro for analysis. Cornwall County Council liaised with Mick Webb, the Newquay Harbour Master who assisted the volunteers, to arrange removal of the turtle remains.

There are three genetically distinct populations of leatherback turtle: Atlantic, Pacific and Malaysian Pacific but, as turtle expert Professor Matt Witt explained when he was contacted by the volunteers, this turtle could have been an Atlantic Caribbean turtle, determined by the shallowness of the ridges down its  shell.

Leatherbacks are the largest of all the sea turtles and, although not native to the UK, are frequent visitors and can survive in our waters by raising their body temperature to up to 18 degrees Celsius above the surrounding water. They often follow food into our cooler waters, which are abundant with jellyfish, the turtles’ main food source. Threats to the turtles are mainly from ingesting plastic bags and other marine litter; from tourism disturbance where they lay their eggs; from being eaten as a delicacy and, rarely, from accidental bycatch. They are listed on the IUNC’s list of Endangered Species as “ Critically Endangered”.

The event highlighted the benefit of the strong links between the various organisations involved and the Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network are very grateful to all those who helped retrieve the turtle. They welcome reports of stranded marine animals to their Hotline – 0845 201 2626.

 

ENDS

 

Contacts:

Annabelle Lowe
Atlantic Diving/Newquay Sea Safaris and Fishing

Jan Loveridge
CWT Marine Strandings Network

Dave Jarvis
BDMLR( British Divers Marine Life Rescue)

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Trunk , the female grey seal semi resident to Newquay Harbour had an exploratory sniff and stretched her neck to what you would imagine was near breaking point, then recoiled rapidly as if she was unfamiliar with the scent…poor Trunk!!

 

(For those with a delicate stomach it may be best to avoid the next few pics as they explore the turtle in greater detail..thanks)