Release of 5 sea turtles
Five sea turtles (Caretta caretta) were released today, Dec. 16, by CNR-ISMAR and Fondazione Cetacea about 3 miles off the port of Ancona.
The five specimens were accidentally caught by bottom trawls in the Northern Adriatic between November and December. The largest specimen (Achille) measured 72 cm and weighed 35 kg with an estimated age of about 20 years.
After a brief stage in Fondazione Cetacea rescue center in Riccione, verified the good conditions of the specimens, turtles are returned to the sea before the arrival of the low winter temperatures.
The turtles, before to be released, have been marked with a metal tag (tag) gripped in one of the front legs. The tag has a unique code allowing to identify in case of a new capture.