Huge Turtle Died From Entanglement In Fishing Gear, Officials Say

PECONIC, NY —A huge endangered leatherback turtle found dead on a Peconic beach last week likely died from injuries sustained after becoming entangled in fishing equipment, officials said.

According to Kimberly Durham, Atlantic Marine Conservation Society necropsy program director: “We were able to complete the examination of the adult male leatherback sea turtle, which measured approximately 5.5'in length."

Southold Town's highway and waste management departments provided resources to remove the turtle from the beach and transported the carcass offsite where an examination was conducted.

"The turtle was found to be in good body condition with food throughout the stomach and intestines," she said. "Jellyfish remains were noted within the esophagus, and one piece of plastic was noted within the stomach. This finding is not believed to be associated with the death of the animal."

The necropsy, Durham said, concluded that the cause of death "is likely associated with injuries related to the entanglement within fishing gear. The turtle was initially reported on Nov. 22 with roping and a buoy constricting the neck and left and right fore flippers. The gear was removed by AMCS staff members and will be forwarded to NOAA Fisheries for analysis," she said.

The huge leatherback turtle found dead on a Peconic beach Friday was the second discovered on the North Fork this year, officials said.

According to Rachel Bosworth of the AMCS, which responded to the stranding, leatherback sea turtles, she added, are an endangered species found in area waters. "This is the seventh leatherback sea turtle AMCS has responded to this year," Bosworth said. "On Nov. 21 another deceased leatherback sea turtle was found at Breakwater Beach."

When sea turtles are spotted in local waters, Bosworth said, it is important to report sightings, as doing so can help marine biologists learn more about their behavior and movements — and in some cases put an alert out to the public to be aware of the animals.

Individuals should report sightings to sightings@amseas.org, Bosworth said.

In addition, Bosworth said, another beach walker found a deceased cold stunned sea turtle at Goldsmith Inlet on Nov. 22, as well.

"This is the season and walking the beach is great way to find these animals, just as the leatherback was found," she said.

Whether a sea turtle appears to be alive or deceased, the public should make a report immediately by calling the NYS Stranding Hotline at 631-369-9829, Bosworth said.

"Sometimes the sea turtles appear to be deceased because cold stunning can paralyze them," she said.

The endangered turtle was found washed up dead on a beach in Peconic Friday, believed to have been strangled by the buoy.

According to Karen Testa, director of the Turtle Rescue of the Hamptons in Jamesport, the organization was the first to be called to the scene at Goldsmith Inlet; she later dispatched the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society to respond.

Testa said she had to identify the turtle, which was an adult male leatherback sea turtle, approximately 550 to 1,500 lbs. and categorized as endangered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

When she found the turtle, Testa witnessed a heartbreaking end to the turtle's long life.

"It was strangled to death, with a buoy wrapped around its neck," she said. "While we were all having Thanksgiving dinner with our families, enjoying one another and laughing, this turtle, who was between 50 and 80 years old, was struggling for its life — because some idiot left a buoy floating in the water. Its arms were caught and the buoy was wrapped around."

Patch photo courtesy Karen Testa.