Sea Turtle Rescue Off Cape Cod

FALMOUTH, MA — A leatherback sea turtle tangled in fishing gear was rescued off Cape Cod Monday, authorities said. The rescue happened in the vicinity of Uncatena Island near Woods Hole in Falmouth. A Good Samaritan came across the turtle and called authorities, according to Massachusetts Environmental Police.

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A team from the nonprofit Center for Coastal Studies was dispatched to the scene and found the turtle tangled in lobster gear, police said.

"The entanglement team was able to completely free the leatherback turtle of all lines and gear, allowing it to swim away freely," police said in a statement.

Last month, the coastal studies team freed a shark caught up in fishing gear in Cape Cod Bay.

The center encourages boaters who come across tangled marine life to contact their entanglement hotline at 1-800-900-3622 or the US Coast Guard on VHF 16, and to stand by a safe distance until rescue crews arrive.

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Shark Rescue In Cape Cod Bay

Photo: A team from the Center for Coastal Studies rescued a leatherback sea turtle tangled in fishing gear near Falmouth on July 5, 2017. (Credit: Massachusetts Environmental Police)