Two rare Leatherback Turtles have been spotted close to Newquay by local crabbing boats….sadly one had already died as it became accidently caught in pot ropes but the second spotted only a day later was fortunately disentangled by the skipper who said it was a large and very strong Turtle which swam immediately away after its release. Leatherbacks are not exactly native to our waters here but their superb thermoregulators and heat derived from muscle activity can raise their body core temperature to up to 18 degree celcius above the surrounding water temperature so the turtles can survive in our cooler sea temps which rarely get higher than 16 degrees unlike the Loggerhead Turtles which occassionally drift into our North Cornwall Coast along on the Gulf Stream and sadly get hypothermia, become unable to hunt, become dehydrated and if lucky are found and taken to the Blue Reef Aquarium for rehabilitation and eventual release into warmer seas.The Leatherback turtles are listed on the IUNC list of Endangered Species as Critically endangered and research shows that the main cause for this is the ingestion of plastic bags and other marine debri as well as human consumption in hotter climates and rarely bycatch. leatherbacks are the largest and fastest swimming turtle, travelling up to 35km/hour, diving up to 1 280m for 30-70 minutes. Their shell easily distinguishes them from other turtles as it has distinct ridges down its Carapace ( shell) which is made up of leathery skin unlike other turtles who have boney carapace. At this time of year the turtles will be foraging for jellyfish which are abundant , but their particular favourite is the Rhizostome or Barrel jellyfish, this helps to keep the jellyfish population down. For more info about Leatherback Turtles please see below link which was written by Prof. Matt Whitt…one of our local experts: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/jan/05/leatherback-turtles-atlantic-journeys
Thanks also for pics and information given from the crabbing skippers
