Sea turtles found entangled in fishing line, Texas photo shows. They were likely mating

Two endangered sea turtles were likely mating when they got tangled up in something else, according to officials in Texas.

The adult green sea turtles — one male and one female — were found entangled in a yellow fishing line, as seen in a photo shared by the Padre Island National Seashore on June 16.

Seasonal biological technicians who were patrolling the area for nesting Kemp’s ridley sea turtles found the turtles in need of help, authorities said.

The technicians removed the braided fishing line from around the turtles’ flippers and necks, according to the Facebook post. The turtles were then taken to Amos Rehabilitation Keep - ARK at UT Marine Science Institute, where they are being treated.

Green sea turtles are considered endangered after they were over-hunted for their eggs, fat and meat, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Other threats to sea turtles include fishing gear, vessel strikes, coastal development and climate change.

Sea turtles caught in debris can struggle to find food, and they can drown if unable to come up for air, officials said.

“You can help marine wildlife from the threat of entanglement by throwing trash away, doing beach clean ups, or simply reducing your use of single use plastics,” Padre Island National Seashore officials said. “If you go fishing, make sure broken fishing gear is properly thrown away.”

If you find an entangled sea turtle along the Texas coast, call 1-866-887-8535.

This story was originally published June 20, 2023 at 1:50 PM with the headline "Sea turtles found entangled in fishing line, Texas photo shows. They were likely mating."