Sea turtles can become trapped and drown in fishing gear that is submerged underwater, or become entangled in ropes resulting in serious injuries that may affect their ability to feed, swim and reproduce. Vessel strikes are likely to occur more often than reported, so it is important for vessel operators and crew to keep an eye out for sea turtles and other marine animals to avoid collisions. When sea turtles are at the surface to breathe, or while feeding or mating in shallow areas, they can be injured or even killed from blunt-force trauma by moving vessels. Some common threats of concern in New York are: Vessel Strikes and Fishing Gear There are many significant and increasing threats to sea turtles throughout their range. Juveniles, between the ages of 2 and 5, can be found within shallow-benthic environments of Long Island Sound, Block Island Sound, Gardiner's Bay and Peconic Estuary, and less frequently in Jamaica Bay, lower NY Harbor and Great South Bay. They're the smallest of the sea turtles and are identifiable by their heart-shaped carapace. The Kemp's ridley sea turtle is the second most commonly seen sea turtle in New York.
Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) Leatherbacks are often seen on the south shore of Long Island, in the NY Bight region, and within the Long Island Sound. Juveniles and adults forage along the east coast of the US and Canada, and their distributions and movements are believed to correlate with seasonally abundant prey. Leatherbacks can regulate their body temperature and are able to travel farther north, giving them the largest range of any reptile species. Leatherbacks are the most pelagic sea turtle and, due to their flexible shell. The leatherback sea turtle gets its name from its large, barrel-shaped body covered with leathery skin, as opposed to the hard, bony shells of other sea turtles. They are one of the largest reptiles on Earth. The leatherback sea turtle is a unique and phenomenal species.
Size & Lifespan: Grow to 6 feet long and up to 2,000 pounds.Their throats' are lined with backward facing spines to help retain their food.
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