Sea Turtle Rescued Near Jewfish Key By Sheriff’s Office, Mote

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office’s Marine United teamed up with Mote Marine Lab to rescue a sea turtle in the intercoastal waterway near Jewfish Key over the weekend, the sheriff’s office tweeted.

Dep. Bill McBride and Dep. Mark Pearson saved the turtle and brought it to Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota for treatment, MCSO said.

Sea turtle conservation is a big part of Mote’s work in the region. According to the aquarium’s website, Mote coordinates with county, state and federal efforts to assist and conserve seat turtles, particularly loggerheads, as Sarasota County boasts the highest density of loggerhead nests in the Gulf of Mexico.

For more than three decades, Mote's Sea Turtle Conservation & Research Program’s staff, interns and volunteers have documented sea turtle nesting activity and the status of shoreline habitat along 35 miles of Sarasota County beaches, Mote said.

The sea turtle nesting season takes place from May 1 through Oct. 31 in Southwest Florida, Mote said. The organization recorded the first sea turtle nest of the year Saturday on Venice Beach.

To keep beaches turtle-friendly, the organization recommends the following tips:

• Stay away from marked off sea turtle nests and seabird nesting zones,
• Turn off outdoor lights that are visible on the beach,
• Close drapes after dark,
• Stack beach furniture at the dune,
• Don’t use flashlights, head lamps or fishing lamps on the beach,
• Keep dogs off the beaches,
• Refrain from using fireworks on the beach,
• Fill in holes that might entrap hatchlings on their way to the water.

Stranded sea turtles (and other marine animals) in Sarasota and Manatee county waters can be reported to Mote's Stranding Investigations Program, a 24-hour response service, at 888-345-2335.

Mote is currently hosting its 35th annual Run for the Turtles, a virtual run this year, through June 30. All funds raised support its sea turtle conservation.