Endangered Turtle Rescued Off Orient Point

A tangled turtle off of Orient Point was set free by Department of Environmental Conservation officers over the Fourth of July weekend.

According to the DEC, the leatherback sea turtle – classified as an endangered species by the federal government – was ensnared in a lobster buoy about two miles off of the point, in the waters of Plum Gut, when two ECOs stumbled upon it on Saturday. The officers reached over their boat and cut the rope away from the reptile, estimated to be about five feet long.

“Long Island’s coastal waters are home to sea turtles and many marine mammals and offer exciting wildlife viewing opportunities for people on the water,”  DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said. “Saving such a large animal required a great deal of skill and the officers involved in this rescue should be commended for using their knowledge and boatmanship to rescue this magnificent animal.”

Saturday's sea turtle save was the second in just three days reported in the area. On the holiday, a Rhode Island vessel reported seeing one tied up in Gardiner's Bay. The 500-pound leatherback was later set free by the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation.

It is estimated that about 115,000 adult female leatherback sea turtles now exist, according to the DEC.

Kimberly Durham, program director with the RFMRP, said it serves as a reminder to the public. “This is just the beginning of the sea turtle season. I encourage the public to report any sightings to our 24-hour hotline number 631-369-9829," she said.