Coast Guard assists SC Aquarium to release five endangered turtles

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Five endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles had quite the adventure this week after a US Coast Guard crew from sector Charleston assisted with their release back into the sea.

The five turtles, Chia, Beignet, Griddle, Home Fry, and Loaf, are at the stage in their life cycle where they need shelter, food, and security provided by sargassum, according to aquarium officials. Sargassum is a large brown seaweed that forms on floating islands in the open ocean.

SC Department of Natural Resources agents offered to help with an open sea release in an area where sargassum would be prevalent, but how could the turtles be transported that far away from the shore? That’s where the Coast Guard came in.

Aquarium officials said that when asked, the Coast Guard was ready to help provide a vessel equipped to carry staff and turtles out to sea.

This particular release of the endangered species was significant for the aquarium.

“Chia, Beignet, Griddle, Home Fry and Loaf were part of our record-breaking year of 49 local sea turtle admits, the most we’ve welcomed in a single year,” says Sea Turtle Care Center Manager Melissa Ranly. “As Kemp’s ridleys, they represent the most endangered sea turtle species in the world. We pour our heart and soul into saving sea turtles, so days like today only reaffirm that our efforts can have longstanding impact for the recovery of their species for generations to come.”

The smallest of the bunch was Chia, who was found entangled and floating on top of marine debris a few miles offshore, officials explained. She spent months undergoing rehabilitation at the facility before she was released.

In all, the aquarium has rehabilitated and released 446 turtles.