Senator Edward J. Markey and Aquarium staff release five rehabilitated turtles into ocean waters off Cape Cod

BOSTON, MASS. (August 6, 2024) – With the help of New England Aquarium sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation staff and Senator Edward J. Markey, five endangered and threatened sea turtles are back in ocean waters off Cape Cod after fully recovering from their life-threatening injuries.

**PHOTOS AND VIDEO AVAILABLE HERE, WITH CREDIT TO THE NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM**

These turtles spent several months at the Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital in Quincy, MA, undergoing treatment for hypothermia-related conditions including pneumonia, dehydration, and emaciation, all results of being unable to regulate their body temperature in the cold waters of Cape Cod Bay last fall and winter. After physical examinations, staff veterinarians cleared the sea turtles to return to Nantucket Sound off West Dennis Beach.

The five turtles included one loggerhead and four Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, threatened and endangered species, respectively, that face threats including fisheries interactions, climate change, ocean pollution, and degradation of their habitats. Rescue and rehabilitation efforts help to conserve these species.

Aquarium staff, volunteers, and interns have a tradition of naming the turtles receiving long-term care. The turtles released Tuesday are:

• “Marsh Mallow” (#336) – Stranded on 12/1/23
• “Tulip” (#647) – Stranded on 12/15/23
• “Lupine” (#693) – Stranded on 12/21/23
• “Bluebonnet” (#698) – Stranded on 12/21/23
• “Violet” (#712) – Stranded on 2/22/23

Senator Markey has been instrumental in advancing the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act (S. 2086), a bill he introduced to establish a new $30 million grant program at the Department of Commerce to fund institutions in Massachusetts and across the United States in their efforts to rescue, rehabilitate, and research stranded sea turtles. The legislation, which is bipartisan and involves both the House and Senate, recently moved out of the Senate Commerce Committee by unanimous consent in late July.

“When I visited these sea turtles at the New England Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital back in February, I promised to get my Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act over the finish line,” said Senator Markey. “Last week, my bill passed the Senate Commerce Committee on a bipartisan basis and we are now one step closer to keeping our shelled friends safe. I am grateful to the great work of the New England Aquarium for saving nearly 400 turtles this season, and I will continue to work to ensure that rescue and rehabilitation organizations across the country can thrive for decades to come.”

Scientists from the Aquarium’s research arm, the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, work with the Aquarium’s Animal Care team to tag some of the turtles for post-release monitoring. The tags collect information about the turtles’ behavior, habitat-use, and survivorship, which helps inform sea turtle conservation and protection efforts, especially in New England where little is known about these species. This season, the team is using a combination of acoustic and satellite tags for real-time data and long-term tracking; some of the turtles can be followed on the Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Tracker page. This work is permitted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“We are thrilled to have people on our side, like Senator Markey, who have truly dedicated time and resources to help us complete this important work,” said New England Aquarium President and CEO Vikki Spruill. “This act is a testament to the work that still needs to be done, and we look forward to continuing this relationship with the Senator to ensure its passage and the continued efforts to support these species.”

During the 2023 cold-stunning season, the Aquarium treated 394 live sea turtles that were rescued from the shores of Cape Cod in November and December by staff and volunteers with Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Getting these turtles back to health requires a collaborative effort between biologists, veterinarians, and researchers, all of whom work tirelessly with the turtles during the rehabilitation effort and continues for some, even after their release.

In addition to Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, the Aquarium works closely with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Fisheries Service and the nonprofit organization Turtles Fly Too to save the sea turtles, many of which are transferred to partner organizations across the country to continue rehabilitation and to provide more space in the Sea Turtle Hospital to allow for care of additional incoming stranded turtles. There are seven turtles remaining at the Aquarium’s Quincy facility from the 2023 cold stun event, in hopes that all will be released off Cape Cod this summer once medically cleared.

MEDIA CONTACT: Hannah Boutiette, 413-717-7759, hannah@teakmedia.com