Aquarium researchers and staff are on expedition to the remote Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) to study the natural history of the islands, surrounding reefs and connecting open water ecosystems. Research on the 2015 expedition will directly inform the management and maintenance of this world-renowned MPA. Today's post comes from Aquarium veterinarian Julie Cavin.

The Phoenix Islands Protected Area is home to green turtles and hawksbill turtles, who make nests on remote PIPA beaches. Though there are reports of green turtles in PIPA dating back approximately 50 years, and in 2000 and 2002 hawksbill turtles were definitively identified in PIPA as well. Thus far, no other turtle species have been observed in PIPA. However, green turtles are especially numerous. In 2000 and 2002, reports of approximately two green turtles were observed per dive, with evidence of nesting on many of PIPA's islands.

"During the past few weeks, we have seen countless numbers of sea turtles at most of the PIPA islands." 

During the past few weeks, we have seen countless numbers of sea turtles at most of the PIPA islands. Similar to earlier reports in 2000 and 2002, we often see two to five turtles during a dive or while fishing for sharks from the zodiac; a few times we have even counted up to ten turtles on the surface at one time. We have also observed evidence of nesting behavior on some of the beaches (i.e., turtle tracks in the sand and disturbed dirt indicating a nest).

Dr. Julie Cavin and Camrin Braun working to free an endangered green sea turtle from entanglement  (Photo: Darren Coker)

"Camrin noticed a juvenile green turtle (Chelonia mydas) that had been significantly entangled in fishing net in a pile of net and rope." 

Today was a different turtle encounter, however. While searching for shark fishing sites, we were exploring the shipwreck on McKean that is in very shallow water and onto the beach. There is a large debris field accompanying the wreck including portions of the ship as well as some of the ship’s likely contents. Camrin noticed a juvenile green turtle (Chelonia mydas) that had been significantly entangled in fishing net in a pile of net and rope. Luckily it was alive and seemed to be in good condition. We carefully cut all of the line free from its neck and front and rear flippers. 
There were no deep wounds from the tightly wound net and the turtle was alert and in good body condition, so the entanglement had likely occurred within the past few days at most, possibly even within the last high tide. I walked it out to shallow water and watched as it quickly swam toward the open ocean. Hopefully he/she will continue to thrive and become a member of the breeding population of this endangered species.