73% Of Sea Turtles Killed In 2019 Died From Vessel Strikes: AMCS

NEW YORK, NY — A startling number of sea turtle deaths in local waters have been attributed to vessel strikes, a new report says.

The Atlantic Marine Conservation Society said, so far in 2019, the organization has responded to 168 marine mammals, including whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and sea turtles that have stranded on New York shores.

Sea turtles specifically, which share area waters in the warmer months, have been significantly impacted by humans, with 73% having been struck and killed by marine vessels from the East End of Long Island into New York City, AMCS said.

"Since June 15, AMCS has responded to an average of two sea turtles per week," AMCS said.

As New York State’s response organization for deceased sea turtles and live entangled and entrapped sea turtles, AMCS said learning what is impacting the various species is critical to their conservation.

All four species of sea turtles that inhabit New York waters have stranded from Southold to New York City this year: Atlantic green, loggerhead, leatherback, and Kemp’s ridley sea turtles have been reported to AMCS. Of AMCS’s 15 responses, 12 have had evidence of human interaction, primarily vessel strike, the organization reported.

“'Watch out for sea turtles' doesn’t just apply to land turtles,” AMCS chief scientist and founder
Rob DiGiovanni said. “Necropsies on 11 out of 15 sea turtles found evidence of vessel strike. That’s a big number. We are sharing these waters with sea turtles and scores of other marine animals. We want boaters to know that they need to be on the lookout for these animals and when they see one, to give it space."

Many of the organization's stranding reports, he added, have come from the people on the water and on the beach. "Without them, we may not necessarily know what’s impacting these various species," he said.

Following one stranding response for a cold stunned Atlantic green sea turtle in March, the first
response for sea turtles for the 2019 summer season began on June 15 with a loggerhead sea turtle that had been stuck by a marine vessel, AMCS said.

There have been 11 loggerhead, two Kemp’s ridley, and one leatherback sea turtle response through July 30. Responses have taken place in Babylon, Breezy Point, Brookhaven, Manhattan, Southold, Staten Island, and Queens, AMCS said.

Only one of the animals, a loggerhead sea turtle that had been caught on a fishing hook and freed itself, survived, AMCS said.

“Learning what is impacting these species is critical to conservation efforts,” AMCS Necropsy Program Director and New York State Sea Turtle Coordinator Kimberly Durham said. “We perform stranding investigations to uncover what is impacting these animals so we can save others in the future. Sharing this information with network partners in our region is also essential.”

Lisa Bonacci-Sullivan, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation marine
biologist, added: “DEC’s partners at the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society are conducting critical work to help us better understand the impacts of human activity on endangered and threatened species like sea turtles and marine mammals. The society’s research guides conservation measures to sustain and better protect New York’s marine life.”

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office sea turtle stranding coordinator Kate Sampson said documentation of strandings is the best source of
data about threats, such as vessel strikes and marine debris, that face the species in local waters.

"AMCS is an invaluable partner in the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network, collecting the data and contributing to our understanding and mitigation of the threats facing endangered and threatened sea turtles," she said.

The public, AMCS said, should maintain a safe distance of 150' from marine mammals, including whales, dolphins, porpoises, and seals — which are federally protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act — and sea turtles at all times, AMCS said.

If an animal is sick or injured, getting closer could cause undue stress on the animal. Live and deceased stranded marine mammals and sea turtles should be reported to the NYS Stranding Hotline immediately at 631-369-9829. Sightings of live sea turtles can be shared with the organization by emailing sightings@amseas.org.