Last night, two loggerhead sea turtles were freed from illegal fishing nets in Órzola.
The two turtles that were found last night have been transferred to the Cabildo’s veterinarian team to be inspected and checked for any injuries before being returned to the sea.
While six species of sea turtle have been recorded in Canarian waters only three are seen regularly. The leatherback is the largest, an immense creature that can measure 2.7 metres and weigh half a tonne, while the green turtle is familiar to children as the character Crush in Finding Nemo.
But the most frequently seen turtle on the islands is, without a doubt, the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta). Known as the “tortuga boba” (stupid turtle) on the islands because fishermen found it so easy to capture them as they floated on the sea; it is, in fact, a highly intelligent creature.
Turtles aren’t easy to see. There have been cases of turtles visiting local marinas, but most sightings will be made by sailors or divers, and those who are lucky enough to encounter these beautiful creatures in the wild rarely forget the experience.
Sadly, several turtles are also discovered washed up dead or severely injured, usually entangled in fishing equipment. It’s one of several threats that have made the loggerhead turtle an endangered species in the Atlantic.
Turtles are often accidentally caught by fishermen longlining or trawling for other species. They are vulnerable to oil spills, and often die entangled in fishing nets. The rise of plastics has led to another threat – tortoises often mistake plastic bags or other plastic waste for the jellyfish they love to eat.