"
A multitude of sea turtles
" off the northeast and east coasts of Corsica due to an "
exceptional weather phenomenon
" was observed by the association "
Cetaceans Association Recherche Insulaire
" (CARI) which treats seven and invites fishermen and boaters to be vigilant.
All of them swallowed hooks.
Read also: Var: a sea turtle comes to lay its eggs on the public beach of Fréjus
“
Over the past three weeks, there have been very large numbers of observations due to circular currents called gyres over an area between the northeast of Corsica and the first Italian islands such as Monte Cristo and Elbe
”, explains Catherine Cesarini, president of the association.
About fifteen in one day
A fisherman, in activity “
for 17 years and his father, who has fished for 40 years, had never seen this.
On a single day, he caught up to 14 turtles
"offshore, around the island of Monte Cristo, she reported.
These turtles were "
repatriated to Ajaccio
" by the Corsican Marine Turtle Alert Network and their volunteer partners: the A Cupulatta land and freshwater turtle park, located in Vero, and the Baléone veterinary clinic, on the outskirts. from Ajaccio.
But “
reception capacities are saturated
”.
An Italian vet is expected to take charge of deeper surgeries and respond to needs.
"
It is more than ever necessary to speed up the authorizations to open a care center in Corsica in order to help more injured turtles
", asks Catherine Cesarini.
"
Do not approach it
"
If a turtle is spotted, she calls "
not to approach it, to take the GPS point and photos and to warn the firefighters who will transmit the information
".
She explains why: “
At sea, if you approach an individual on the surface, they will stress and breathe very quickly.
Its lungs are on the back of the shell so it will trap air in the shell and the animal will no longer be able to dive and will be doomed to a certain collision
”.
Sea turtles, visible in Corsica between May and October, are "
indicators of plastic pollution in the Mediterranean
".
