Sea turtle,
caught in line,
saved by diver

Rescuer dives 15 feet to bring
the endangered animal to a vet

By Lori Tighe
Star-Bulletin

A green sea turtle with fishing line hanging out of its mouth and tumors on both eyes was rescued by divers off the North Shore yesterday.

The turtle, a threatened species, was the 17th rescued in seven months, according to Ken Nichols, an owner of North Shore Diving Headquarters.

"It was a typical situation," he said, "very sad."

Nichols had to free dive 15 feet to reach the turtle and carry it to the surface just before noon. He kept the front flippers of the 100-pound turtle above the water to immobilize it, then put it in his diving boat.

Filiesha LeRand, a National Marine Fisheries Service turtle rescuer who works for the University of Hawaii's Marine Options Program, transported the juvenile turtle to a Kailua holding pen for a veterinarian to treat it today.

"I couldn't open his mouth, but I don't think he swallowed the hook," LeRand said. "He had a fishing hook embedded in his shoulder. I think he swallowed the line."

But the fishing line is more dangerous than the hook, Nichols said. The animals often can pass the hook, but the line can severely damage a turtle's intestines.

The troubled turtles Nichols has rescued in the past year became wrapped in fishing lines or nets. And many suffer from a herpes-like tumor on their eyes and mouth.

Several turtles had fins tied up in fishing lines. The fins were rotting on their bodies and required amputation.

"It's a big problem and it just seems to be getting worse," Nichols said.

"The bottom line is, we need to set areas aside for conservation," he said. "Until then, it's not going to be taken care of. It's really quite sad."