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Loggerhead turtles are one of five sea turtle species found on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Loggerheads and green sea turtles are the most common in Navarre Beach, along with the Kemp’s ridley, a smaller turtle that is the most imperiled of all the sea turtle species. Scientists estimate fewer than 1,000 breeding females exist in the world.
All five species were pushed to the brink of extinction due to human activity and have been listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. For centuries, the turtles were hunted for their meat or shells, and many fell victim to other fishing operations, being caught in trawl nets hunting for other species.
“We have always looked to our hospital to see what are the most commonly found injuries, and many of them are things like pollution, things like boat strikes and also fishing line and entanglements,” said Valerie Nicole Tovar, conservation manager for the Loggerhead Marinelife Center. “This issue is that sometimes we might not always get these reports, because not everyone always knows what to do when there is an entanglement or an injury of a sea turtle on a pier.”
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📸 Dennis Pillion and Gulfarium CARE Center
