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US- Florida: Red Tide Bloom Continues to Sicken Sea Turtles |
| Source URL: |
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http://www.tbnweekly.com/content_articles/100505_fpg-05.txt |
| Date Posted: |
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Oct 13, 05 - 8:54 AM |
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Red tide bloom persists
Sea turtles continue to sicken and die
By SUZETTE PORTER
PINELLAS COUNTY - A red tide bloom continues along coastal and offshore areas of southwest Florida, and sea turtles are continuing to die.
That's the latest information from the Florida Wildlife Research Institute and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
Two sick and one dead sea turtle from the south part of the county, John's Pass and Egmont Key, were reported to the CMA on Friday. Two additional sea turtles deaths were reported to the CMA during the week of Sept. 27 to 30.
The rescue of one of the turtles, a 340-pound male, required the assistance of several local boats and the U.S. Coast Guard, according to Terrie Weeks, spokesperson for the CMA.
Weeks said mature turtles, 20 to 30 years old, were being sickened and killed, which would have an impact on the breeding population for years to come. As of Monday, about 100 turtles have died since late June.
Seven sea turtles are recuperating at the CMA, including one Kemp's Ripley, which is an endangered species of sea turtle. Most of the dead have been loggerhead turtles, which are a threatened species.
The recovering sea turtles have neurological damage. Weeks said rehabilitation would be slow. She said the turtles in rehab were showing signs of improvement.
"Most are swimming on their own now and can hold their heads up," she said.
The CMA needs the public's support to continue to care and respond ... click URL above for full story. |
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