Three sea turtles were released at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront on Friday morning.
The Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center released “Boston Bruin,” “Gaston,” and “Maleficent” at Neptune’s Park.
Boston Bruin, a loggerhead sea turtle, has been in rehabilitation at the facility for over a year. He had a broken carapace from a boat strike that required extensive work to repair before his release. He was discovered in a net by a fisherman in Northampton County in June 2013.
Maleficent is a small Kemp’s ridley turtle. She was hooked by a fisherman at the Gloucester Point Fishing Pier in July.
Gaston, also a Kemp’s ridley turtle, was hooked by a fisherman at the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier in August.
The Stranding Response Team urges anyone who sees a hooked turtle to call the 24-hour hotline 757 385-7575. While you wait for assistance, do not pull a turtle up on the line which causes further injury but scoop it with a net. Then keep the turtle shaded and wet. Most of all, do not fish if you see turtles nearby.
