SATELLITE Beach, Fla. – Dedicated volunteers from the Sea Turtle Preservation Society (STPS) are exerting great efforts to save sea turtle hatchlings ensnared in dense sargassum seaweed that has washed ashore due to turbulent waves and strong winds.
The current adverse weather, shaped by numerous hurricanes and storm systems, has created a precarious setting for these vulnerable turtles.
Terri Watkins, a STPS volunteer and part of the rescue team, explained that sea turtle hatchlings, commonly known as post-hatchlings, utilize the sargassum in the Gulf Stream as a safe haven for growth.
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“Because the sargassum is getting pushed onshore, the sea turtles are actually getting trapped back on the beach,” she said.
Rough seas accompanied by strong winds are usual during Florida’s hurricane season, happening about once or twice each year. This year, however, the number of found hatchlings has been markedly high.
“We found easily almost a hundred hatchlings in this section of the beach alone,” Watkins said.
Volunteers meticulously search through heaps of sargassum, which can reach depths of two and a half to three feet, looking intently for the well-hidden hatchlings.
This task is not only physically taxing but also requires caution due to debris mixed within the seaweed. “For both your safety and that of the sea turtles, wearing gloves is essential,” Watkins emphasized.
If beachgoers find a sea turtle hatchling, they are urged not to touch them or put them back in the water. “
They don’t have the instinct to swim back out to the Sargasso Sea. They become easy prey,” Watkins said.
Instead, people should call the local sea turtle emergency hotline so trained volunteers can rescue and rehabilitate the turtles.
Kris Marvin, STPS volunteer coordinator, described the rescue process, saying “We take them to sea turtle healing centers such as the Brevard Zoo. They treat them there, give them fluids, and then they get a coast guard ride back out into the ocean.”
The volunteers’ dedication is evident, with some working for hours in difficult conditions.
“It gives you a thrill that you can barely explain… it fills you with such hope and such joy,” Jamie Oliva, an eight-year STPS member and volunteer, said.
The rescue efforts will continue as long as the weather conditions push sargassum ashore.
Watkins emphasized the importance of community involvement.
“If you see a sea turtle on the beach, call the emergency hotline. They can’t help themselves, so we need to do our part to help them,” Watkins said.
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