Marine Life & Conservation
Rare marine turtle washes up on Devon beach
A rare, warm water Kemp’s ridley turtle has washed up on Woolacombe Beach, North Devon.
The small dead turtle was reported to the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) last Tuesday (28th January 2014).
Just 30cm in length, the creature is not the first Kemp’s ridley to be washed up along the UK coastline this winter, according to Dr Peter Richardson, MCS Biodiversity Programme Manager: “Two weeks ago, another Kemp’s ridley was discovered on a beach in Carmarthenshire by a woman out walking her dogs. In December, a Kemp’s ridley washed up alive in South West Wales but died shortly after. In addition, a young loggerhead turtle washed up dead at Worthing, and this month we have also received reports of leatherback turtle remains on Chesil beach near Weymouth, and on Tregantle beach in south east Cornwall.”
In the 1980’s Kemp’s ridleys were on the brink of extinction as a result of hunting and egg collection on the nesting beaches in Mexico, and through accidental capture and drowning in shrimp trawling nets fishing in the Gulf. Back then there were only a few hundred females recorded emerging at the main nesting beaches, but since then strict protection on the beaches has been put in place, and the use of special Turtle Excluder Devices in Gulf of Mexico shrimp nets has grown. These measures have both contributed to the recovery of the species, and now thousands of female Kemp’s ridley turtles emerge to nest each year.
Dr Richardson says it is really important that sightings are reported, “We ask people to keep their eyes peeled for stranded turtles during this stormy weather. Sometimes freshly stranded turtles can appear dead, but may still be alive and can be rescued. They should NOT be put back in the sea, as this will definitely kill them. Instead, they should be moved away from the water to a sheltered place, preferably in a cardboard box out of draughts, and reported to experts for collection. Even if they are obviously dead they should be reported as they can be used for post-mortem research.”
If you’re in the UK and you find a stranded or dead turtle on the beach then you should report them to the Cetacean Stranding Investigation Programme on 0800 6520333. You can also find out more information by downloading the UK Turtle Code which you can find at www.mcsuk.org.
6 years ago, The Ocean Cleanup set sail for the Great Pacific Garbage Patch with one goal: to develop the technology to be able to relegate the patch to the history books. On 6 September 2024, The Ocean Cleanup fleet returns to San Francisco bringing with it System 03 to announce the next phase of the cleanup of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and to offer you a chance to view our cleanup system up-close and personal.
We look forward to seeing you there.
To confirm your presence, please RSVP to press@theoceancleanup.com
PROGRAM
Join The Ocean Cleanup as our two iconic ships and the extraction System 03 return to San Francisco, 6 years and over 100 extractions after we set sail, to create and validate the technology needed to rid the oceans of plastic.
Our founder and CEO, Boyan Slat, will announce the next steps for the cleanup of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Giving you a chance to view our cleanup system and the plastic extracted.
Hear important news on what’s next in the mission of The Ocean Cleanup as it seeks to make its mission of ridding the world’s oceans of plastic an achievable and realistic goal.
Interviews and vessel tours are available on request.
PRACTICALITIES
Date: September 6, 2024
Press conference: 12 pm (noon)
Location: The Exploratorium (Google Maps)
Pier 15 (Embarcadero at Green Street), San Francisco, CA
Parking: Visit The Exploratorium’s website for details.
RSVP: press@theoceancleanup.com
Video & photo material from several viewing spots around the bay
We look forward to seeing you there!
ABOUT THE OCEAN CLEANUP
The Ocean Cleanup is an international non-profit that develops and scales technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. They aim to achieve this goal through a dual strategy: intercepting in rivers to stop the flow and cleaning up what has already accumulated in the ocean. For the latter, The Ocean Cleanup develops and deploys large-scale systems to efficiently concentrate the plastic for periodic removal. This plastic is tracked and traced to certify claims of origin when recycling it into new products. To curb the tide via rivers, The Ocean Cleanup has developed Interceptor™ Solutions to halt and extract riverine plastic before it reaches the ocean. As of June 2024, the non-profit has collected over 12 million kilograms (26.4 million pounds) of plastic from aquatic ecosystems around the world. Founded in 2013 by Boyan Slat, The Ocean Cleanup now employs a broadly multi-disciplined team of approximately 140. The foundation is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and opened its first regional office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2023.
Find out more about The Ocean Cleanup at www.theoceancleanup.com.
A shark has been spotted approaching Royal William Yard in Plymouth, much to the surprise of swimmers, paddleboarders and onlookers.
With its distinctive dorsal fin cutting through the water, the sizeable shark swam along the coastline, before turning to head inland towards Firestone Arch at Royal William Yard. The appearance drew a crowd, who were captivated for more than an hour by the unusual sight – and it was all caught on video.
The shark is one of many expected sightings at Royal William Yard over the coming weeks… because today marks the start of Shark Month!
In reality, the ‘shark’ spotted along the Plymouth shoreline was actually a custom-made model, created by the team at Royal William Yard and sailed underwater by Caroline Robertson‑Brown from the Shark Trust, who donned scuba diving gear for the occasion.
The stunt took place to launch Shark Month in style and draw attention to the work of the leading international conservation charity, which is based in Britain’s Ocean City. Spectators were reassured that the water was safe and many entered into the spirit of the performance, swimming or sailing alongside the shark.
Shark Month will take place across Royal William Yard throughout July and will feature an extravaganza of art, entertainment and advocacy for everyone to enjoy. The packed programme of events starts with an art exhibition and ends with a trip on paddleboards with shark experts – with everything from a shark quiz to a Jaws screening in between.
Paul Cox, CEO of the Shark Trust, said: “There are often assumptions and misconceptions when it comes to sharks. This was certainly the case with the shark spotted at Royal William Yard! While the British coastline is home to many species of shark, this was not one of them. However, we’re thrilled it caught people’s attention, because seeing a shark is a special and memorable moment. That is precisely why we want to celebrate these incredible creatures, highlight the need for conservation, and ask for help to safeguard their future.”
For more information about Shark Month at Royal William Yard, visit the Shark Trust Website.
Images and video: Jay Stone
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