FALMOUTH – R. Charles Martinsen III, Deputy Director of the Town of Falmouth’s Department of Marine and Environmental Services, sent this video of himself and Peter Duley, National Marine Fisheries, Protected Species branch, untangling fishing line from a 800 to 1,000 pound leatherback turtle on Wednesday, June 26 at around noon.
The fishing line was wrapped two to three dozen times around the turtle’s neck and front flippers, and it took about ten minutes to free the turtle, he said. After it was completely disentangled, the turtle swam away, he said.
Two recreational fishermen out of Edgartown had reported the tangled turtle, which was located about two miles south of Waquoit Bay.
Mariners who see a turtle tangled in fishing line should call the Cape Cod Stranding Network at 508-743-9548.
