ML102420107

Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Summary for March 2008

ML102420107
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	04/07/2008
From:	Bresette M Florida Power & Light Co, Quantum Resources
To:	Foster S, Hoffman B, Hollowell E, Koperski M, Logan D, Munne V, Niebch D, Norton S, Perkins W Division of License Renewal, State of FL, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commision, State of FL, Marine Research Institute, US Dept of Commerce, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
References
Download: ML102420107 (6)

Text

Balsam, Briana From: <Michael_Bresette@fpl.com> [Michael_Bresette@fpl.com]

Sent: Monday, April 07, 2008 10:46 AM To: 'David_Niebch@fpl.com'; 'Ed_Hollowell@fpl.com'; 'Stacy_Foster@fpl.com';

'Vince_Munne@fpl.com'; 'Winifred_Perkins@fpl.com'; 'Meghan.Koperski@MyFWC.com';

'Bob.Hoffman@noaa.gov'; 'Shelley.Norton@noaa.gov'; Logan, Dennis

Subject:

March sea turtle captures Meghan Koperski April 7, 2008 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida Marine Research Institute P.O. Box 3478 Tequesta, FL 33469

Subject:

Marine Turtle Removal Monthly Summary March 2008

Dear Meghan,

Enclosed please find the monthly summary of marine turtle removals for March 2008. In March, we captured thirty four (34) Caretta caretta and thirteen (13)

Chelonia mydas in the intake canal of the St. Lucie power plant on South Hutchinson Island. During March, four loggerheads were transferred to a rehabilitation facilities after consultation with FWCC personnel. The compromised condition of these turtles was not causal to plant operation. There were two mortality events in March; one loggerhead and one green turtle. These turtles were found floating at the surface of the primary barrier net and were moderately decomposed.

After talking with FWCC personnel, it was determined that these were non-causal mortalities and that they likely entered the canal in a moribund condition. Necropsies were not conducted due to the decomposed condition in which these turtles were found. All other turtles captured in March were released on the same day of capture.

Construction to repair the primary barrier net has been initiated and estimated to be complete by the beginning of May. The temporary 5â barrier net is in place and effectively keeping turtles confined to the eastern 200 meters of canal. Tag numbers and morphometric data for all turtles are attached. Also attached is a spreadsheet of all captures, mortalities, injuries and causal events delineated by species and month for 2008. This spreadsheet will be updated monthly and included in our monthly report to your agency. This spreadsheet also tracks fresh scrapes and will be helpful in determining the success of the intake pipe cleaning project. Please contact me at your convenience at 772-349-5905 if you have any questions concerning these enclosed data.

Sincerely, 1

Michael J. Bresette Sr. Environmental Specialist Quantum Resources, Inc.

CC: Shelly Norton (NMFS)

Robert Hoffman (NMFS)

Vince Munne (FPL)

Licensing (FPL)

Winifred Perkins (FPL)

QA Records (FPL) 2

MARINE TURTLE REMOVALS ST. LUCIE PLANT INTAKE CANAL March 2008 Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 3/1/2008 Caretta caretta 1 RRM674/RRM675 66.3 68.0 74.1 69.5 53.5 50.2 36.1 Hand capture 3/1/2008 Caretta caretta YYB292/YYB293 54.0 55.1 59.1 55.1 44.7 43.0 24.4 South net 3/2/2008 Caretta caretta YYB294/YYB295 58.9 60.4 64.4 64.4 51.8 46.5 32.1 North net 3/2/2008 Caretta caretta YYB296/YYB297 59.4 60.8 66.5 67.0 52.5 45.2 33.0 North net 3/6/2008 Caretta caretta YYB298/YYB299 68.0 68.8 76.1 72.2 58.5 53.5 50.9 South net 3/6/2008 Caretta caretta YYB300/YYB301 62.2 63.5 69.4 66.2 53.9 48.7 34.9 North net 3/8/2008 Chelonia mydas YYB302 31.3 31.7 33.4 29.0 25.6 26.1 3.8 South net 3/10/2008 Caretta caretta 2 71.0 72.1 78.4 74.0 57.8 54.9 40.8 Barrier net 3/10/2008 Chelonia mydas 3 51.4 51.6 54.9 48.6 41.6 41.1 17.0 North net 3/11/2008 Caretta caretta YYB303/YYB304 71.0 73.0 78.7 75.7 60.9 57.9 54.5 North net 3/13/2008 Chelonia mydas 28.5 29.3 31.3 27.2 24.6 24.9 3.2 South net 3/14/2008 Caretta caretta YYB305/YYB306 63.7 65.0 69.8 66.5 53.3 51.7 35.2 South net 3/14/2008 Caretta caretta YYB307/YYB308 63.0 64.1 68.9 66.8 52.2 50.1 37.4 Hand capture 3/14/2008 Caretta caretta YYB309/YYB310 61.1 62.7 67.4 66.1 55.6 50.4 35.0 Hand capture 3/14/2008 Lepidochelys YYB311/YYB312 59.2 60.5 63.9 67.0 56.0 47.9 28.9 North net kempii 3/15/2008 Chelonia mydas 4 YYB179/YYB180 54.9 55.2 58.3 50.6 42.7 45.6 23.2 North net 3/15/2008 Caretta caretta YYB313/YYB314 62.5 63.6 66.7 61.4 49.9 48.6 33.9 North net

Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 3/15/2008 Caretta caretta YYB315/YYB316 60.6 62.0 67.4 63.3 51.3 47.8 34.2 Hand capture 3/17/2008 Caretta caretta YYB317/YYB318 72.5 73.1 78.1 76.7 58.1 56.9 53.1 South net 3/17/2008 Caretta caretta YYB319/YYB320 66.0 67.0 73.7 71.2 55.1 51.5 43.8 North net 3/19/2008 Chelonia mydas 5 YYB110 44.6 45.0 47.2 41.6 34.5 37.4 13.1 North net 3/19/2008 Chelonia mydas YYB321 29.7 30.2 32.2 27.3 24.3 25.5 3.4 South net 3/21/2008 Eretmochelys 32.0 33.0 35.1 29.8 25.1 27.2 3.9 South net imbricata 3/21/2008 Chelonia mydas YYB322 38.0 38.3 41.8 35.8 30.2 30.9 8.0 North net 3/21/2008 Caretta caretta YYB323/YYB324 59.6 60.4 65.4 62.5 51.0 48.2 32.5 North net 3/21/2008 Caretta caretta YYB325/YYB326 59.0 60.2 66.3 65.2 51.6 47.5 35.0 North net 3/21/2008 Caretta caretta YYB327/YYB328 72.0 73.7 79.4 74.9 60.0 56.6 54.3 North net 3/22/2008 Caretta caretta 6 67.2 68.6 76.2 76.2 56.9 53.0 40.6 Barrier net 3/23/2008 Chelonia mydas YYB329 33.9 34.2 35.9 31.2 28.1 28.9 4.5 Intake well 3/24/2008 Caretta caretta 7 57.8 57.8 61.4 67.7 54.1 48.9 31.8 Barrier net 3/24/2008 Caretta caretta YYB330/YYB331 64.9 66.0 72.0 57.5 54.0 50.4 34.5 South net 3/25/2008 Chelonia mydas 8 29.0 29.6 31.3 28.1 24.3 23.9 3.1 North net 3/25/2008 Caretta caretta YYB332/YYB333 70.4 71.5 77.6 73.5 60.7 55.6 50.0 North net 3/25/2008 Caretta caretta YYB334/YYB335 62.6 64.1 69.9 64.7 54.7 50.5 38.4 South net 3/26/2008 Caretta caretta YYB336/YYB337 68.4 69.2 75.3 72.0 61.2 54.6 47.2 North net 3/26/2008 Caretta caretta YYB338/YYB339 59.3 60.0 65.4 64.4 52.1 46.7 33.2 North net 3/26/2008 Caretta caretta YYB340/YYB341 63.4 64.7 68.3 68.3 55.9 52.9 43.4 North net

Date Species Note Tag #'s SMCL SSCL CSCL CMCW SMCW SMPL Weight Method (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (kg) 3/26/2008 Caretta caretta YYB342/YYB343 60.6 60.9 63.6 67.7 55.1 50.7 36.8 North net 3/27/2008 Caretta caretta YYB344/YYB345 68.8 70.4 78.9 74.2 57.0 54.3 46.8 North net 3/28/2008 Caretta caretta 9 66.7 67.5 72.1 68.9 55.3 52.5 34.7 Barrier net 3/28/2008 Chelonia mydas 10 RRX099/RRX100 40.1 40.6 43.5 37.0 31.1 32.8 8.8 North net 3/29/2008 Chelonia mydas 34.3 34.8 36.7 35.5 29.9 29.0 6.2 North net 3/29/2008 Caretta caretta YYB346/YYB347 63.1 64.7 69.7 65.4 54.4 51.1 37.8 North net 3/30/2008 Chelonia mydas 28.3 29.2 30.8 26.0 24.2 24.2 3.0 South net 3/30/2008 Chelonia mydas 11 YYB348 35.9 36.1 37.7 33.0 28.9 30.2 5.9 North net 3/30/2008 Caretta caretta YYB349/YYB350 63.5 63.9 68.9 67.7 56.0 50.0 41.8 North net 3/30/2008 Caretta caretta YYB351/YYB352 59.4 60.1 66.4 63.4 52.1 47.4 29.5 North net 3/30/2008 Caretta caretta YYB353/YYB354 80.0 81.4 87.8 81.9 66.1 63.2 74.7 South net 3/31/2008 Caretta caretta YYB355/YYB356 64.5 65.3 70.6 64.0 52.7 49.5 32.1 South net

NOTES

1. Recapture. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 2/5/04. Turtle found underweight and lethargic with minor, healed carapace damage. Possible papillomas in cloaca. Transported to Mote Marine Aquarium by FWCC personnel. Not causal to power plant operation.

2. Turtle found at surface of primary barrier net. Lethargic and emaciated with no wounds or abnormalities.

Transported to Marinelife Center by FWCC personnel. Not causal to power plant operation.

3. Recapture. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 10/28/04, 5/20/05, 5/28/05, 7/20/05, 8/2/05, 8/12/05, 9/12/05, 4/16/06, 6/24/06, 8/14/06 and 2/2/07.

4. Recapture. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 6/15/03, 7/17/03, 11/26/03, 4/1/04, 5/14/05, 7/2/05, 7/23/05, 10/17/05, 5/10/06, 8/21/06, 9/25/06 and 12/2/07..

5. Recapture. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 9/23/04, 8/11/06, 8/23/06, 9/30/06, 3/6/07, 8/19/07, 12/3/07, 1/14/08 and 2/21/08.

6. Turtle found at surface of primary barrier net. Lethargic and emaciated with no wounds or abnormalities. A few minor scrapes present from entrainment into canal. Transported to Marinelife Center by FWCC personnel. Not causal to power plant operation.

7. Turtle found dead at surface of primary barrier net. Emaciated with heavy epibiont load. Determined to be non-causal to power plant operation after consultation with FWCC.

8. Turtle found floating (dead) in intake canal. Moderately decomposed with no wounds or abnormalities. Not causal to power plant operation.

9. Turtle found at surface of primary barrier net. Lethargic and underweight with no wounds or abnormalities.

Transported to Sea World by FWCC personnel. Not causal to power plant operation.

10. Strange tag. Whereabouts pending. Papillomas. Small tumor at base of left front flipper. Turtle released at Hutchinson Island the same day.

11. Recapture. Turtle was removed from the intake canal, tagged and released at Hutchinson Island on 3/13/06, 9/8/06 and 1/11/08.

SMCL = Straight Minimum Carapace Length SMCL = Straight Standard Carapace Length CSCL = Curved Standard Carapace Length CMCW = Curved Maximum Carapace Width SMCW = Straight Maximum Carapace Width SMPL = Straight Midline Plastron Length