ML12132A253

April 2012 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report

ML12132A253
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	05/04/2012
From:	Weege S Inwater Research Group
To:	Koperski M Florida Power & Light Co, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, US Dept of Commerce, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Admin, National Ocean Service
Balsam B
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From: Stephen Weege To: Meghan Koperski Cc: Dave Niebch; Dave Clark; RidsNrrDlr Resource; Ed Hollowell; Jodie Gless; Ken Frehafer; Mike Bresette; Shelley Norton; Vince Munne

Subject:

April 2012 FPL Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Report Date: Friday, May 04, 2012 5:43:03 PM Attachments: April 2012 Marine Turtle Captures.rtf Monthly Report Notes 2012.xls FPL St. Lucie Capture Summary 2012.xls Mrs. Meghan Koperski Tequesta Field Laboratory 19100 SE Federal Highway Tequesta, FL 33469

Subject:

Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Summary April 2012

Dear Meghan,

Attached, please find the monthly summary of marine turtle removals for April 2012. This month, we captured twenty nine (29) Caretta caretta, nine (9) Chelonia mydas, and one (1)

Dermochelys coriacea in the intake canal of the St. Lucie power plant on Hutchinson Island.

Three loggerhead sea turtles were sent for rehabilitation and there were no mortalities in the month of April.

On April 1st, a subadult loggerhead was proactively captured with a dip net and removed from the intake canal. The turtle was underweight and lethargic. Bone was exposed from scutes sloughing from the carapace in two places (not fresh scrapes) and 5% of the posterior carapace was missing from an old healed injury. The animal also had heavy epibiont coverage. After consultation with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the turtle was transported to the Loggerhead Marine Life Center (LMC) in Juno Beach for rehabilitation by LMC staff. This incident was not considered causal to FPL operations.

On April 9th , a second subadult loggerhead sea turtle was recovered from the surface of the temporary 5-inch barrier net in the morning. The turtle was severely emaciated and lethargic. The eyes were sunken in and heartbeat was easily visible externally. The animal appeared to be in a moribund state. The turtle was missing up to 15% from each front flipper from an apparent old healed injury and also had a heavy epibiont load. After consultation with FWC, Inwater Research Group (IRG) biologists transported the turtle to the Marinelife Center. This incident was not considered causal to FPL operations.

On April 11th , a third subadult loggerhead turtle was recovered floating at the waters surface near the temporary barrier net. The perimeter of the carapace was broken at the right anterior margin and necrotic tissue was exposed (14cm x 6cm wound). Broken bone was exposed by the opening into the body cavity and the animal was lethargic and underweight. The scutes were also sloughing off. The turtle was transported by the FWC sea turtle stranding coordinator to LMC in Juno Beach for rehabilitation. This incident was not considered causal to FPL operations.

Throughout the month, the 5 barrier net experienced light to moderate loads of algae that entered into the intake canal, whereas jellyfish entrainment was negligible. The temporary barrier net has performed as designed and no turtles have been observed beyond the 5-inch net. To date, Florida Power & Light and Morgan & Eklund, Inc. continue to work together on the installation of a permanent 5-inch barrier net.

The tag numbers and morphometric data for all turtles are attached. Also included is a spreadsheet for all captures, mortalities, injuries, and causal events delineated by species and by month for 2012. This spreadsheet also tracks fresh scrapes incurred on captured turtles for the current month, as well as the entire year.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Sincerely, Steve Steve Weege Sr. Environmental Specialist Inwater Research Group, Inc.

4160 NE Hyline Dr.

Jensen Beach, FL 34957 sweege@inwater.org (772) 349-7252