The Gulfarium’s C.A.R.E. Center successfully released six rehabilitated sea turtle patients on Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at Inlet Beach. 

According to the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center, they have taken in 89 patients this year, and so far have released 58 of them (5 just last week!). Yesterday, six sea turtles that included four Loggerheads, one Kemps ridley, and one Green were able to return to the Gulf of Mexico. This marks the third release at Inlet Beach in the last month. 

• “Lychee”, an adult female Kemps ridley weighing in at 73 lbs., was caught on July 2 at Navarre Beach Fishing Pier wrapped in fishing line. After x-rays and bloodwork showed no other ailments and no internal hooks, Lychee was cleared for a very short stay at the CARE Center.

• “Apple”, a subadult Loggerhead weighing in at 88 lbs., was accidentally hooked in the mouth by a circle hook at Navarre Beach Fishing Pier on June 26, 2023.

• “Finn”, a subadult Loggerhead weighing 100 lbs., was foul-hooked at Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier on February 26 with a j-hook in his esophagus. Finn was very emaciated and anemic upon arrival. After months of rehabilitation and rest, Finn was finally cleared for release.

• “Finley”, a subadult Loggerhead weighing 96 lbs., was accidentally hooked at Navarre Beach Fishing Pier on April 4, 2023. Due to the severity of entanglement he had sustained, his right front flipper was amputated at the CARE Center. After three months of healing and rest, he passed his health exit exam and was ready to be returned to the Gulf.
  • “Per FWC regulations, turtles are releasable if they have at least one flipper on each side of their body, and do just as well as turtles with all four flippers,” says Tabitha Siegfried, Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Stranding Coordinator.

• “Mango”, a subadult Loggerhead hooked at Navarre Beach Fishing Pier on July 2 and “Coconut”, a juvenile Green recently hooked at NBFP, also joined the release.

If you see a sea turtle in distress, injured, or deceased please report it to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission immediately at 1-888-404-FWCC (1-888-404-3922).