Posted on: Friday, October 29, 2004

Maui facility releases 5 sea turtles

Advertiser Staff

MA'ALAEA, Maui — Five juvenile green sea turtles that had been at the Maui Ocean Center since March 2002 were released into the ocean south of La Perouse Bay yesterday.

The 4-year-old turtles were born at Sea Life Park on O'ahu, and weighed an average of 14 pounds when they arrived at the Maui aquarium. Since then, they have grown to an average of 60 pounds, officials said.

The turtles were numbered 2 through 6, followed by the letter "M." Officials are asking that sightings of the turtles be reported to the Maui Ocean Center at (808) 270-7000 so that national marine officials can track the threatened animals. One of the turtles, known as 6M, was outfitted with a satellite transmitter by marine scientist George Balazs of the National Marine Fisheries Service.

A turtle that was released in March 2003 with a satellite transmitter attached to its shell was tracked swimming off South Point on the Big Island and up to the North Shore of O'ahu.

The Pacific Whale Foundation assisted with yesterday's release by donating use of its catamaran.

With the turtles gone, the Maui Ocean Center will be conducting maintenance on its Turtle Lagoon, with six new turtles to arrive in mid-November.