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Barnacle infestation takes its toll on sea turtles

ABU DHABI - Barnacle infestation has taken toll its on sea turtles in Abu Dhabi waters, the Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA) said on Monday.

"Recently, incidences of barnacle infestation on sea turtles in Abu Dhabi waters have been reported to the agency," an ERWDA Press release said.

It said a number of sick turtles covered with barnacles had been rescued and treated at the Marine Environment Research Centre (MERC) of ERWDA and released to the sea once their general health improved.

One of these cases is now being treated by ERWDA. The one-year turtle was rescued by some fishermen at Mina Zayed area and handed over to ERWDA infested with barnacles and bivalves.

The juvenile was covered about 69 per cent of body weight with barnacles, which made it weak. Barnacles, bivalves and snails covered the head, flippers, plastron, carapace and tail.

The parasites were removed (weight of ectoparasites removed: 348.8 g, 68.8 per cent of turtles body weight) from the infected parts with care. The turtle is currently held in a nursery tank for further observation and is being fed with floating turtle feed. Once it recovers from the stress, the yearling will be released to the sea off Abu Dhabi.

Infestation of barnacles and some species of bivalves is common in sea turtle yearlings and juveniles. Sea turtle biologists suggest that physiologically and/or genetically weak hatchlings spend most of their time resting underwater and are therefore susceptible to attachment by barnacles. These animals do not affect the host in the short term but in the long run may make the turtle more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infection.

By detaching these parasites, the yearling was relieved of the impacts and will be back to its normal activities once released. However, if the turtle continues to be passive and continues to rest underwater for long periods, further infestation of ectoparasites cannot be ruled out.

Populations of all sea turtle species in the world have declined in recent years, and conservation studies have been launched in regions of their range of distribution. At least one species, the Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) nests in the UAE while another species, the Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is widely encountered in the coastal waters.