Sea Turtle Found Entangled in Fishing Net Off Xiaoliuqiu; Experts Urge Reduction of Marine Debris

(CNA, reporter Huang Yu-ching, Pingtung County, July 8) A sea turtle severely entangled in a fishing net was found off Xiaoliuqiu today. Coast Guard personnel, alerted to the situation, collaborated with fishermen to rescue the animal, which has since been sent to the National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium for treatment. Li Tsung-hsien, an associate researcher at the museum, stated that such incidents are common in Xiaoliuqiu and urged for a reduction of discarded waste entering the ocean.

The Fifth Coastal Patrol Brigade of the Southern Coastal Patrol Directorate General announced today that the Xiaoliuqiu Inspection Station received a report at 9:05 AM today regarding a live sea turtle found at the harbor entrance of Baisha Fishing Port in Xiaoliuqiu. The turtle's movement was restricted due to severe entanglement in a fishing net. The inspection station simultaneously notified the Kaohsiung Marine Conservation Station of the Marine Conservation Administration and dispatched personnel via a friendly fishing vessel to conduct the rescue. After jointly bringing the trapped sea turtle ashore, they assisted in removing the entangled fishing net and followed procedures to report to the Marine Animal Rescue Network (MARN) for assistance.

The Fifth Coastal Patrol Brigade stated that preliminary identification indicates the sea turtle species is an Olive Ridley, with rope marks on its right forelimb. It was subsequently sent to the National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium by the Kaohsiung Marine Conservation Station for further examination and treatment.

The Fifth Coastal Patrol Brigade urges the public that if they discover stranded, injured, or trapped marine life on the shore, in harbors, or at sea, they should not attempt to pull, drive away, or handle the animal themselves. Instead, they should immediately call the Coast Guard's "118" reporting hotline, and Coast Guard personnel will promptly arrive to provide assistance.

Li Tsung-hsien told CNA that the Olive Ridley rescued today had ligature marks. If not treated in the wild, its forelimb could be lost. Cases of sea turtles being injured by fishhooks, fishing lines, or propellers are common hotspots across Taiwan, with Xiaoliuqiu being a frequent location.

Recently, a diving instructor shared on social media that he encountered a sea turtle entangled in fishing line while diving and cut the line to let the turtle swim away. Regarding this, Li Tsung-hsien stated that considering personnel safety as the top priority, underwater rescue operations for sea turtles are not common internationally, and there are no standard operating procedures that guarantee 100% safety for personnel. Therefore, the current "Marine Animal Rescue Network" established by the Marine Conservation Administration in Taiwan primarily focuses on stranded animals on shore or rescue of those floating on the surface.

Li Tsung-hsien added that in this case, the sea turtle appeared to have been unable to breathe for a long time, and only after the entanglement was removed could it surface to respire and survive. He also appealed to the public to minimize the entry of discarded fishing gear into the ocean, as sea turtles are often injured by such waste. If fishing, people should take their fishhooks and fishing lines back to prevent entanglement and harm to marine animals. (Editor: Huang Ming-hsi) 1150708

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