BETHANY BEACH, Del. – A young Kemp’s ridley sea turtle was rescued by the Marine Education, Research & Rehabilitation (MERR) Institute on Wednesday, Oct. 2, after it washed ashore near the Ocean Village community in Bethany Beach. The turtle sustained several injuries from a boat propeller, including a significant wound to the top of its head.
According to MERR, while the turtle’s wounds had begun to heal, the head injury had caused some abnormal neurological behavior. The turtle, measuring only 12 inches in length, was transported to the National Aquarium for long-term rehabilitation. Despite the severity of its injuries, the turtle is showing signs of strength, though its recovery remains uncertain due to the neurological symptoms.
Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are the most endangered sea turtle species and are often found in Delaware waters during the summer. This turtle is one of many MERR has responded to this season as a result of boat propeller injuries. According to MERR, more than 50% of the sea turtles they rescue each year suffer fatal injuries from boat propellers.
For more information on how to help reduce boat propeller-related injuries and deaths among endangered sea turtles and marine mammals, visit MERR’s website at www.merrinstitute.org. The organization promotes the use of propeller cages, which act as protective covers around propeller blades to prevent harm to marine life.
Suzanne Thurman with MERR is educating people about the option of these cages.
"We know that the people who are boating out here absolutely do not want to harm a sea turtle, and this would be a small investment to make to keep this from happening," said Thurman.
She says that 20-30 sea turtles die each year from boat propellers in Delaware.
"And this happens because turtles sleep on the surface of the water. The boater, we are sure, doesn't see them. It's not a deliberate or careless thing, they just don't see them. And the damage from the propeller normally cuts through the shell, sometimes even decapitates the turtle. But it is almost always a fatal injury," said Thurman.
Ken Fraiman was a boat owner for most of his life. He thinks it makes sense.
"Most boat owners want to protect marine life, but it's a matter of cost and working it out," said Fraiman.
Thurman says a cage investment could save boaters money in the long run.
"It could severely damage their boat propeller. They have massively hard shells - sadly not enough to defend against a boat propeller - but that collision will cause damage to the propeller. It may be more costly to replace the propeller, or repair it, than to put one of these protective cages around the props," said Thurman.
