Sea Turtles Released With Help Of Southampton Town Officials

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Two sea turtles were released this week, with the help of Southampton town officials.

The Town of Southampton's department of public safety and emergency management participated in the release of the two rehabilitated cold-stunned Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles with the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society on Tuesday.

The two cold-stunned Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles were flown down to Southampton from New England as part of an effort to rescue and rehabilitate cold-stunned sea turtles, officials said.

They were nursed back to good health by the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society at their Westhampton critical care sea turtle facility, officials said.

The Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle is one of the most endangered sea turtles in the world and can be found on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Endangered Species List, officials added.

Through an ongoing partnership between town and the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, representatives from the town's public safety and emergency management's animal control, fire marshals, and neighborhood services divisions were joined by a large crowd of spectators and supporters at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Ponquogue Beach to celebrate the release.

The town routinely works with the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society to respond to stranded
and deceased marine life, as well as to provide marine mammal awareness training to staff, officials said.

Town Code Compliance and Emergency Management Administrator Ryan Murphy, who
helped carry one of the turtles down to the release point on the beach, reflected: "We are
thrilled to participate in what I have dubbed 'Turtle Tuesday'. The staff at the Atlantic Marine
Conservation Society are great partners to the town, and we’re so happy to join them in celebrating their efforts and the release of these two turtles today."

Southampton Town Councilwoman Cyndi McNamara assisted in carrying the second
turtle. "It is amazing to be able to support the conservation efforts of the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society in the release of these sea turtles back to the ocean. I’m honored to play a role today and to continue to support the relationship between the town and Atlantic Marine Conservation Society," she said.