Two Loggerhead turtles were found apparently dead last Sunday having been caught on fishing line.
The two turtles were found on the morning of Sunday the 15th October. They were caught in an enormous fishing line drifting off the coast of Gran Tarajal. One was found alive, but the other had a flipper severed whilst trying to escape from the net and was apparently dead. Both turtles were taken quickly by the Vigilancia de Espacios Naturales del Cabildo from the dock at Gran Tarajal to La Lajita where the zoo vets found that after a check up that one of the Loggerhead turtles was not gravely injured, and it was able to be returned to the sea between Pozo Negro and Las Salinas.
The other Loggerhead turtle, caught on Saturday in Caleta de Fuste, was entangled in 100 meters of plastic rope, with hundreds of hooks along all the length of it. This was found drifting tied to several water bottles to keep it afloat. It was sighted by a pleasure boat belonging to fishermen participating in the fishing championship in El Castillo, they notified the organizers of the event and the Cabildo's Environment Service was called. They arranged for the recovery of the animals from the net.
The Cabildo's Department of the Environment explained that fishing in this manner is prohibited around the coasts of Fuerteventura, and stated that "this is one of the worst cases, as not only is this illegal for fishing, but it creates a continuous slaughter house as the creatures that get caught up and die serve as bait for other animals to become trapped, creating a vicious circle of death.
The Minister of the Enviroment, Lázaro Cabrera, praised the department, "for their tireless work in the preservation of the natural resources", and for "knowing how to surround themselves with reliable sources and dedicated people in the different ports of the island" with whom they are in permanent contact, because the guards, though they are very conciencious in their work, "cannot be in all places at the same time".
The department of Medio Ambiente also explained that during the Fishing Championships at the weekend in El Castillo they had spotted adrift other examples of this type of fishing device which fishermen participating in the event collected and carried to land. Lázaro Cabrera wanted to congratulate and to thank the "commendable attitude of these fishermen", and called to all citizens to continue this work and "to collaborate in doing all possible for the withdrawal of these aquatic snares, which do nothing but exhaust our waters with benefit to no one, because of a few irresponsible people without conscience." Lázaro Cabrera further requested that as well as removing these traps form the sea people should have the courage to denounce this behaviour allowing the perpetrators who carry out this type of insensitive fishing to be brought to justice.
Rescued Loggerhead turtle in Caleta
Sunny 
Fuerteventura 
