Coast Guard rescues ocean-going turtle off Jersey Shore

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., Aug. 13 (UPI) -- An 800-pound leatherback sea turtle, stuck in fishing gear 30 miles off the coast of New Jersey, got a helping hand from the U.S. Coast Guard.

A recreational fisherman spotted the entangled turtle Saturday and reported it, helpfully including the GPS coordinates, the Coast Guard said. A crew from the stations in Atlantic City and Cape May got to the location and freed the turtle.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Nick Giannaris, who got the turtle unstuck, said the entire crew was "energized" by the experience.

"It was one of my better experiences being in the Coast Guard, just seeing the animal so close and helping marine life," he said.

The leatherback is the largest turtle, with adults weighing as much as 1,500 pounds. They migrate thousands of miles and dive up to 4,000 feet below the surface.

The species' numbers are believed to have dropped significantly in recent decades, mostly because of manmade hazards like fishing gear and the loss of nesting beaches.