Leatherback turtle spotted from Silurian!
It was a once in a lifetime moment as a Leatherback turtle popped up next to Silurian on our most recent acoustic survey! True ocean wanderers, these turtles are rare visitors to the west coast. Seen on the 6th of September west of the Isle of Muck, our Marine Biodiversity Office, Becky, tells us about this incredible encounter….
After days of rain and increasing winds, we were already feeling particularly lucky as we left our anchorage in blazing sunshine and flat calm seas on Sunday. After a fantastic morning sailing around the Small Isles, with several common dolphin sightings, we began to sail back towards the mainland. Suddenly I felt the boat slow, a tell-tail sign that something had been spotted on deck. After rushing back up from below, I looked at Charlie, our first mate, who turned to me in disbelief. He pointed next to the boat, simply saying ‘Turtle’. After a moment of astonishment, I too saw the enormous shape of a Leatherback turtle moving through the water! Extremely recognisable by their black, leathery skin covering their carapace (shell), we could see the seven ridges down the shell as it swam just below the surface. The turtle looked prehistoric, belonging to another world.
Gasping, I ran back down to grab the camera, certain that it would have disappeared by the time I came back up. However, the turtle did not seem to be in much of a hurry to go anywhere! We maintained a distance of over 100 metres before stopping the boat and floating alongside, watching in awe. The turtle then began to swim towards us using its colossal front flippers to propel itself forward with ease. A fulmar even began swirling overhead, appearing to be just as interested as we were!
After taking a final breath, the turtle dove down and slowly disappeared beneath the waves. Charlie, Emma, and I could not believe our luck as we whooped with excitement! The encounter was particularly special for Emma, the skipper, and boat manager, who had missed Silurian’s last and only other encounter by a whisker back in 2011. Having worked every trip but one that year as the first mate, it was on the only one she missed that they had encountered a turtle. Good things truly do come to those who wait!
Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) are the largest marine turtle in the world, reaching up to 2.5 meters in length and weighing up to 700 kilograms. They are truly an ocean wanderer and can be found all over the world, undertaking enormous migrations, breeding in tropical waters and feeding in temperate waters. As a result of egg collection, fishing and plastic marine debris, numbers of leatherback turtles have seriously declined during the last century. Globally, leatherback’s are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and many sub-populations are critically endangered and in decline. Here in the UK, they are listed as Priority Species and sightings are rare but the late summer months offer the best chance to see them in the Hebrides.
How can you help:
Report your sightings in the Hebrides on Whale Track under ‘other’ so that they can be shared with relevant organisations like the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) and added to the regional and national databases to allow scientists to understand more about the movements of these amazing ocean wanderers.
Sea turtles do not nest on UK beaches, so if you find a live stranded turtle please contact British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) or Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) for any dead marine turtles, cetaceans, seals or sharks.
Reduce your use of single-use plastic, specifically plastic bags.
THIS ENCOUNTER OCCURRED DURING AN ACOUSTIC SURVEY, AND WE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN OUT THERE COLLECTING ANY DATA IF IT WASN’T FOR THE INCREDIBLE SUPPORT WE RECEIVED THROUGH OUR CROWDFUNDER CAMPAIGN. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO MADE THIS HAPPEN!
THANKS ALSO TO NATURESCOT WHO HELP FUND THE DATA COLLECTION PROGRAM ABOARD SILURIAN AND THE NATIONAL LOTTERY HERITAGE FUND FOR THEIR SUPPORT DURING THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.
FEELING INSPIRED TO GET INVOLVED WITH OUR MARINE CONSERVATION EFFORTS? COME AND JOIN US ONBOARD IN 2021 FOR YOUR CHANCE TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR RESEARCH AND ENCOUNTER SOME OF THE AMAZING WILDLIFE WE HAVE IN OUR WATERS!