Editor's note: Click on photo for link to high resolution video
CORTEZ, Fla.— The Coast Guard rescued a sea turtle tangelled in crab pot rigging west of Longboat Key, Florida, Thursday.
At 9:06 a.m. watchstanders at Station Cortez received a call from a Good Samaritan reporting a sea turtle was in danger.
A 29-foot Response Boat-Small-II from the station was launched and arrived on scene to find the turtle tangled in crab pot rigging. Crewmembers immediately freed the sea turtle and it swam away without any apparent injury.
Boaters are reminded to keep a sharp lookout and contact the Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or nearest marine rescue if they see any sick, stranded or injured marine wildlife.
Marine environmental protection is one of the Coast Guard's statutory missions, which includes:
- Stopping unauthorized ocean dumping and regulating the discharge of oil, hazardous substances, and other shipboard wastes into U.S. and international waterways
- Protecting marine mammals
- Regulating the introduction of invasive species into waterways
- Responding to oil and hazardous substance accidents and reducing their impact on the marine environment
- Developing environmental regulations and standards for domestic vessels and marine facilities