It was during the morning that the discovery happened, just after Tim Webster and Trivon Smith had stopped off on Scrub Island to take a break from fishing.

Tim Webster and Trivon Smith on the beach at Island Harbour with the rescued Hawksbill turtle

Tim and Trivon noticed an unusual shape in the shrubs around one of the salt ponds, and on investigating they found it to be an adult Hawksbill turtle seemingly stranded after high tidal surges. After some effort the two fisherman managed to get it on board their fishing vessel and called the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources (DFMR).

On arriving at Island Harbour they were met by Fisheries Officers who measured and tagged the turtle after giving it a check up to assess it’s condition after the ordeal. Although it is not thought that the turtle nested on Scrub Island it is believed that it may have been looking for a likely site when it was stranded, disorientated and became entangled in undergrowth. After a group of school children had been shown the splendid creature it was released back into the ocean and made a swift getaway.

DFMR would like to offer warm thanks to Tim, Trivon and the other fishers in Island Harbour for their part in this rescue story. The Department would like to encourage reports of this nature in the future as turtle welfare is a high priority - their future still being in the balance. If anyone catches sight of turtles on land they are requested not to disturb the animal and call DFMR on 497-2871 or 476-7691.

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