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One of the biggest challenges in protecting sea turtles is that they are constantly on the move. All sea turtle species make migrations (big or small) from their nesting grounds to foraging areas, requiring coordinated conservation efforts between all territories that they cross through. For example, the USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Russia participate in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to protect the bird species that travel regularly across their borders. But what happens when the area that needs protecting doesn’t belong to any country?
At the end of June, Upwell Executive Director Dr. George Shillinger joined our Aquarium La Rochelle collaborators to tag and release 9 rehabilitated juvenile turtles. So far, about half of the turtles have left the bay swimming slightly northward, while the other half are taking their time. You can read more about each of the turtles, like where they were rescued and what care they received before their journey back into the ocean in the info cards made by the Aquarium below.
While the effects of HABs on marine mammals have been well documented, much less is known about their potential impact on sea turtles. Under the mentorship of Upwell Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Heather Harris, Cal Poly veterinary student Brenna Eikenbary is investigating the likelihood of HAB exposure among sea turtles stranded along the West Coast since 1990.