Entangled Sea Turtle Rescued

BASSETERRE: the St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network (SKSTMN) mobilized its In Water Team across two critical sites, showcasing the organization’s unwavering dedication to marine conservation. In a split-operation morning patrol, half the team rushed to Carambola Beach following a hotline report of a sea turtle entangled with a hook and line protruding from its mouth, requiring urgent health assessment and potential removal. Simultaneously, the other half ventured by boat into Shitten Bay, where they successfully captured a juvenile green sea turtle—a rare opportunity made possible by limited boat access that expands monitoring reach.

The juvenile, a vital indicator of ecosystem health, underwent careful processing before release. SKSTMN volunteers applied flipper tags to track its growth, migration patterns, and long-term survival, contributing to broader data on foraging populations. As new team members honed skills in tagging, health checks, and capture techniques, extra caution was emphasized around the front flippers. “Did you know a sea turtle can flap its front flippers so forcefully out of water that it fractures its own humerus?” the network shared on social media, highlighting the restraint methods used to prevent injury. Interactions were kept brief—10 to 15 minutes—to minimize stress, ensuring swift return to the ocean.

Founded in 2003 by Dr. Kimberly Stewart, an Associate Professor at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, SKSTMN operates as a standalone NGO and proud member of the Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST). The group monitors nesting populations, patrols beaches to deter egg poaching, and advocates for stronger protection laws amid threats like fishing bycatch and habitat loss. Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), classified as endangered by the IUCN, face local perils from coastal development and marine debris in St. Kitts’ turquoise bays. Flipper tagging, a non-invasive tool, reveals migration routes—often spanning thousands of miles—and informs sustainable fisheries policies, protecting both turtles and the island’s dive tourism economy, which draws eco-visitors to spots like Shitten Bay.

For residents, these efforts underscore a shared stewardship: entangled turtles often stem from discarded gear, a call for community cleanups. SKSTMN’s hotline (via their Facebook page) empowers locals to report sightings, fostering involvement. As nesting season peaks, such interventions not only safeguard biodiversity but bolster St. Kitts-Nevis’ reputation as a conservation leader. Follow updates on Facebook or visit stkittsturtles.org to volunteer—your beach walk could save a life.