Team saves entangled leatherback sea turtle in Cape Cod Bay

A leatherback sea turtle is swimming free after finding itself in a twisted situation.

"Phinney" was freed by some helpful humans from a tangle of fishing gear in Cape Cod Bay.

Now, the six-foot-long, 400-pound leatherback turtle is heading out into the open Atlantic Ocean.

Last Thursday, scientists from the New England Aquarium, responders from the Center for Coastal Studies and the Barnstable Harbormaster assisted the turtle struggling in the bay.

“The turtle had a rope entanglement around the shoulder region of its right front flipper, but fortunately it was detected quickly and the gear was still loose with minimal damage to the flipper,” said Dr. Melissa Joblon, the aquarium’s director of animal health, in a statement.

After being disentangled, scientists gave Phinney a top-to-bottom health assessment.

“Overall, the turtle appeared healthy, active, and in great body condition, so we suspect it will do very well after release,” said Joblon.

The team also attached satellite and acoustic tags to monitor the turtle after release. These tags will allow scientists to detect the turtle up to 10 years from now, between Canada and Florida.

“It’s critical that we understand the outcomes of leatherback sea turtles after they’re disentangled from fishing gear,” said Kara Dodge, an aquarium research scientist.

Dodge said they are interested in understanding the turtle's survival and behavior after its release from an entanglement.

Leatherback sea turtles are the largest sea turtles in the world. They are classified as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, and their population globally has declined considerably in recent decades, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

One of the main threats to the turtles has been fishing gear entanglements, which can result in drowning or debilitating injuries or death, NOAA said.

If you're on the water and see a marine animal tangled in fishing gear or other material, officials ask that you report to the MAER team (1-800-900-3622) or the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF 16. Officials advise that you stay with the animal at a safe distance until trained responders arrive.

The Barnstable Harbormaster responders gave the turtle the name Phinney. You can follow Phinney's travels on the New England Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Tracker.