Watch Out for Sea Turtles in NY Harbor When Boating

http://www.onthewater.com/sea-turtle-alert/

Yes, New York Harbor Has Sea Turtles too!
​According to the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation, four different species of sea turtles are commonly found inhabiting the waters of New York Harbor and Long Island Sound during the summer months and early fall, where they feed on a variety of food, such as spider crabs, jellyfish, seaweed, and green crabs: Loggerhead Sea Turtles, Green Sea Turtles, Kemps Ridley Sea Turtles, and Leatherback Sea Turtles.

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Watch for Sea Turtles when Boating this Fall!
BY MASS AUDUBON 
| SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 | 
BOATING.
​On the Water Magazine

Your attention on the water and your concern can help save these threatened and endangered species.

There have been at least five loggerhead and two leatherback sea turtles killed by boat strikes in Nantucket Sound and Cape Cod Bay over the past two weeks, and fishermen are being urged to please keep a close eye out for sea turtles. There are four species feeding in Massachusetts waters this time of year, and with fall fishing quickly approaching its peak, it increases the likelihood of sea turtle boat strikes.

You’re most likely to see leatherbacks and loggerheads. Leatherbacks are huge, 4 feet or more in length, dark, with fore-and-aft ridges on their upper shell. Loggerheads in our waters are usually 2 to 3 feet long, tan/brown with yellow/orange around their heads and flippers. Loggerheads often have barnacles and algae on their upper shell. Both species sometimes bask at the surface, and swim at or just under the surface. A small powerboat could easily kill a loggerhead or a huge leatherback, and there have been had numerous boat strike fatalities in recent weeks.

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