Hull aquarists volunteer to help save endangered sea turtles

Two aquarists from The Deep in Hull travelled to Cape Cod to assist the New England Aquarium in rescuing cold-stunned, often critically endangered sea turtles; The Deep says volunteers have taken part for seven years and survival rates for treated turtles are about 80–90%.

Two aquarists from The Deep in Hull travelled to the United States to support the New England Aquarium's seasonal rescue work for sea turtles. They worked on Cape Cod beaches where cold-stunned turtles are washed ashore during the autumn migration. The volunteers included Shoshana Levine and Gavin Clarke and this exchange marks the seventh year The Deep has taken part in the project. Temperatures during some rescues were reported as low as -25C (-13F). Known details: - The volunteers swapped roles between The Deep (Hull) and the New England Aquarium to help with turtle rescues along the migration route. - Sea turtles can become "cold-stunned" when water temperatures fall during autumn and some are carried ashore by currents; the Cape Cod Bay geography can trap them. - Species rescued include Kemp's ridley sea turtles, leatherbacks, green turtles, and loggerheads. - The Deep reports that more than 470 turtles have been treated at the rescue centre and that survival rates for those treated are about 80–90%. - Staff and volunteers work in challenging conditions and coordinate across a network of organisations to rehabilitate and release turtles. Summary: The account describes ongoing international volunteer support for a seasonal rescue effort that responds to turtles becoming cold-stunned during migration. Rehabilitation work has treated hundreds of turtles with a reported high survival rate, and participating organisations continue coordinated rescue and release activity.