VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — As the weather warms up, sea turtles will make their way back into Virginia waters, and typically, mid- to late-April is the time when our Stranding Response team tends to see an uptick in sea turtles incidentally hooked by recreational anglers. This is a great time to remind the public on what to do it they hook a sea turtle.
What to do if a sea turtle is hooked by a fishing line:
- Inform the pier attendant (if there is one) immediately and they will supply recovery gear and help retrieve the turtle.
- Call the Virginia Aquarium’s Stranding Response Team at 757-385-7575
- Use a net to bring the turtle to the top of the pier. DO NOT lift by the hook if at all avoidable. Lifting by the hook can cause severe damage to the turtle
- If the turtle is too large to net, try to walk it to the beach
- Leave the hook in place. Removing it may cause harm and make medical treatment more difficult
- When you have control of the turtle, cut the line at least two feet from the hook
- Keep turtle out of direct sunlight and cover the carapace (shell) with damp towel
- Wait with the turtle until the Stranding Response team arrives
Hooked sea turtle season refers to a time when sea turtles are caught by hooks on fishing lines during the recreational fishing season. In Virginia, hooked sea turtle season occurs throughout recreational fishing season, which takes place predominantly in May and June but can be seen through September.
The Virginia Aquarium partners with Buckroe, Virginia Beach Fishing Piers, and others throughout the community through the Virginia Aquarium Pier Partner Program to educate local anglers, minimize harm to turtles during hooking events, and provide quality medical care for hooked sea turtles. The four partnered piers have signage, recovery gear and pier staff who are willing to assist when a hooked sea turtle is reported…