Sea Turtle Entanglement Report Form

SEA TURTLE ENTANGLEMENT REPORT FORM

FIELD #: ______________________________

OMB Control No. 0648-0496; Exp Date: XX/XX/XXXX

Shaded area for NOAA Fisheries Service (NMFS) use only

EVENT CONFIRMATION:

Confirmed

Probable

Not confirmed

INITIAL OBSERVATION: Observer name: ________________________________________________ Phone: __________________________________
Observer affiliation: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Observation date: _________________________ (mm / dd / yyyy) Time: _________________________
am
pm
Turtle condition:
Alive
Fresh dead
Moderately decomposed
Severely decomposed
Dried carcass
Skeleton
Unknown
EXAMINATION / RESPONSE: Responder name: ___________________________________________ Phone: _________________________________
Responder affiliation: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Response date: _________________________ (mm / dd / yyyy) Time responder arrived on scene: _________________________
am
pm
Turtle condition:
Alive
Fresh dead
Moderately decomposed
Severely decomposed
Dried carcass
Skeleton
Unknown
PHOTO DOCUMENTATION: Photos taken:
Yes
No Video taken:
Yes
No
Turtle in gear
Injuries / entanglement site
Buoy colors, numbers and any other identifiable feature(s)
Documentation of:
LOCATION: State: __________ County: ______________________ Nearest port / town: ___________________________________________________
Locality details: _____________________________________________________________________________________ Stranded ashore:
Latitude: _________________________________________ N
Longitude: _______________________________________ W

Yes

No

TURTLE DATA: Species or description: ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Straight carapace length:** ____________________
Curved carapace length:** ____________________

cm
cm

in
in

actual
actual

est.
est.

**Carapace length is measured from nuchal notch to posterior tip (see diagram in instructions)

Weight: ____________________

kg

lb

actual

est.

Sex:
Male
Female
Not examined
CBD
Does tail extend beyond carapace?
Yes
No
If Yes, how far? ____________
cm
in
actual
est.
Sex determined by:
Necropsy
Tail length (adults only)
N/A

GEAR TYPE: Indicate the primary (in contact with turtle) entangling gear with a “P” and secondary gear with an “S”. Fill out all applicable details.
____ Vertical Line with Surface Buoy
Line attached to bottom gear:
Yes
No If Yes, bottom gear:
Pot(s)
Net
Unknown
Other: ______________________________
Length of line between turtle and surface buoy: ____________________
cm
in
actual
est.
____ Line Only (no buoy)
Monofilament
Multifilament (e.g. nylon or poly rope)
Unknown
Type:
Hook(s) present:
Yes
No If Yes, where attached to turtle:
Not attached
Mouth
Ingested (past mouth)
Soft tissue (not mouth)
Yes
No If Yes, bottom gear:
Pot(s)
Net
Unknown
Other: _____________________________
Line attached to bottom gear :
____ Net
Monofilament
Multifilament (e.g. nylon)
Unknown
Type:
____ Fish Trap (pound net / weir)
Location:
Free-swimming in trap
Entangled in leader
Entangled in trap
Other (describe in Additional Remarks)
____ Other Describe: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
GEAR DETAILS:
Net
Estimated stretched mesh size: ____________________
cm
in ID number(s): ____________________
Pot(s) Number of pots: _____________ ID Number(s): _______________________________________
Buoy(s) Number of buoys: __________
Buoy 1

Buoy 2

Buoy 3

Type
Color/Pattern
ID Number(s) / Letter(s)
Line(s)
Number of lines: __________
Biofouling present on gear:
Gear retrieved:
Yes- all

Color 1: ____________________

Color 2: ____________________

Color 3: ____________________

Yes
No If Yes, % of visible gear covered by biofouling: __________ % (describe type of biofouling in Additional Remarks)
Yes- partially
No
If Yes, disposition:
Initial observer
STDN member
State agency
NMFS Gear Team

DISENTANGLEMENT OUTCOME: (Check one)
Disentangled and released
Partially disentangled and released
Collected for treatment at: ___________________

Entangled / no action taken
Entangled / not relocated
Lost during disentanglement

Relocated to: _________________________
Euthanized
Other: _______________________________

CARCASS / SAMPLE DISPOSITION: (Check all that apply)
Left at site
Towed ashore
Buried
Off beach
On beach

Necropsied
Scientific collection
Educational collection

Biopsied
Other: ______________________________
Unknown

TAG / MARK DATA: Checked for flipper tags:
Yes
No Scanned for PIT tags:
Yes
No
Tag / mark type
Numbers
Location on animal
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________

Applied

Present

ENTANGLEMENT / WOUND DESCRIPTION: Use table below to describe the entanglement configuration and any wounds associated with the entanglement site. Check all
that apply. Note the specific location, # wraps, partial or complete circumference, tight vs. loose, etc.).

Body
area
involved

Movement
impaired

Head /
neck

Description:

Front
flippers

Description:

Carapace
/ plastron

Description:

Rear
flippers

Description:

Indentation

Skin abraded

Muscle
exposed

Bone
exposed

Swelling

Discoloration

Tissue necrotic/
sloughing

BEHAVIORAL OBSERVATIONS
Response to Approach and Handling: Check one.
Vigorous movement

Movement slow, sluggish, or weak

Response Upon Release: Check one from each row below.
Vigorous movement
Movement slow, sluggish, or weak
Dives and/or swims away within 1
minute

Unconscious / Unresponsive

Movements abnormal (e.g.
uncoordinated, circling, listing)

Could not evaluate

Could not evaluate

Remains at surface and/or does not
swim deliberately away within 1 minute

Describe Behavior:

EVENT SUMMARY AND ADDITIONAL REMARKS:
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DISCLAIMER
These data should not be used out of context or without verification. This should be strictly enforced when reporting signs of human interaction.
The collection of information on sea turtle entanglement is necessary to ensure sea turtles are being conserved and protected, as mandated by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. Your voluntary
collection and submission of this information will help achieve this objective. The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average one hour per response, including the time for
reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no
person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that
collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. Personal identifiers and any commercial information will be kept confidential to the extent permitted under the Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), the Department of Commerce FOIA regulations (15 CFR Part 4, Subpart A), the Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S.C. 1905), and NOAA Administrative Order 216-100. Send comments regarding
this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to (NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Protected Resources Division, 55
Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930).