WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao Sea Aquarium has established an emergency shelter for nearly twenty young sea turtles rescued from the northern waters of the island. The turtles, ranging in age from five to ten years old, were brought in after getting entangled in large amounts of sargassum, a type of brown algae that forms dense floating mats in the ocean. 

In collaboration with Sea Turtle Conservation Curaçao, the Sea Aquarium has been working tirelessly to care for these turtles, which were primarily rescued from the bays of Ascencion and Wakawa. Sargassum, while a natural phenomenon, can be life-threatening to marine life in large quantities, particularly for sea turtles, which can get trapped in the mats and struggle to swim or breathe. 

The Sea Aquarium's emergency shelter aims to provide a safe and controlled environment for the turtles as they recover from the effects of sargassum exposure. Experts are closely monitoring the turtles' health and will continue their care until they are strong enough to be released back into the wild. 

This initiative highlights the growing concern over the impact of sargassum on local marine ecosystems and the importance of continued conservation efforts to protect vulnerable species like sea turtles. The collaboration between the Sea Aquarium and Sea Turtle Conservation Curaçao is vital in ensuring the well-being of these creatures, who play a crucial role in maintaining the health of the island's marine environment.