LEATHERBACK TURTLE SAVED FROM LOBSTER TRAP IN THE FLORIDA KEYS

A leatherback turtle is entangled in lobster trap line off the shores of Islamorada on Sept. 7. FWC Officer Pablo Ruiz freed the turtle after cutting the line. FWC/Contributed

A leatherback turtle entangled in lobster trap line in the waters of the Upper Keys was freed thanks to the efforts of one Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation officer.

Officer Pablo Ruiz was patrolling near Alligator Reef around 3 p.m. on Sept. 7 when he noticed a commercial lobster trap buoy bobbing in and out of the water. Upon further discovery, Ruiz saw a large black shape under the buoy and immediately noticed the shape of a leatherback turtle. 

Ruiz noticed that the turtle had its neck and front flippers entangled in the trap line. Efforts to grab the line to unravel the 350-pound turtle worked to now avail due to its weight. Ruiz subsequently contacted a commercial lobsterman to figure out the owner of the trap. Ruiz ended up getting in contact with the owner, who agreed to let the officer cut the line. 

Ruiz made a few cuts to the trap line to free the turtle from entanglement. Ruiz said the turtle stayed at the surface for a few moments, took a breath, submerged and swam off. 

Named for their rubbery shell, leatherbacks are covered with a firm, leathery skin and have seven ridges running lengthwise down their backs. They are usually black with white, pink and blue splotches and no claws on their flippers. The leatherback sea turtle is protected as an Endangered species by the Federal Endangered Species Act and as a Federally-designated Endangered species by Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule, and by Florida’s Marine Turtle Protection Act (379.2431, Florida Statutes).

According to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Division, leatherback nesting has decreased off the Atlantic coast of Florida, which is one of the main nesting areas in the continental U.S.