Parasite infected turtles released into the seas after treatment

A number of sick turtles treated for parasites have been released back into Abu Dhabi waters.

The turtles were treated at the Marine Environment Research Centre (Merc) of the Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (Erwda).

One of the casualties was a one-year-old turtle, infested with barnacles and bivalves, which was rescued by fishermen at Mina Zayed area. About 70 per cent of the creature was covered with barnacles, making it very weak.

Experts at the agency removed all the parasites, weighing 348.8 grams, from the infected parts.

A spokesman at the centre said: "The turtle is kept in a nursery tank for further observation and is being fed with floating turtle feed. Once it recovers from the stress, the yearling will be released to the sea off Abu Dhabi."

Infestation of barnacles and bivalves is common among sea turtle yearlings and juveniles.

Biologists say sea turtles that physiologically and genetically weak spend most of their time resting underwater and are more susceptible to getting barnacles.

The spokesman added: "By detaching these parasites, the yearling was relieved and could return to normal. However, if the turtle continues to be passive for long periods, further infestation of parasites can not be ruled out."

Barnacles cling to hard substratum and stay attached to them as they filter feed. Many are found in the inter-tidal region where pressure is high from predation, wave action, and competition for space.

Marine biologists said most turtle strandings take place when the water is coldest as low water temperature means low metabolism for reptiles.

In the last two years, ecologists have seen a high number of turtles in the region weighed down with barnacles.