A Japan Coast Guard officer cuts away netting to free a sea turtle on July 22 off Tsushima, Nagasaki Prefecture (courtesy of the Japan Coast Guard).
On July 28, the 7th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters in Kitakyushu released a video. It shows officers freeing a sea turtle from an abandoned fishing net off Tsushima, Nagasaki.
Lost or discarded fishing gear, known as "ghost gear," can cling to turtles and other wildlife, almost like a haunting. It can wreak havoc on marine ecosystems. The post, intended to spark discussion on marine pollution, drew praise and highlighted a lesser-known aspect of Coast Guard duties.
Turtle Rescue in Action
"Easy, easy — don't thrash. We'll let you go," an officer said in the clip.
The turtle, about one meter long, thrashed in a drifting net as three officers moved from a patrol vessel to an inflatable boat and cut the lines with a knife. When the net fell away and the turtle dived, one called, "All right! Bye-bye, off you go."
The report came on July 22 from a fisherman off Funashi Bay in Tsushima City, the coast guard said. Part of the 7th regional headquarters, the Hitakatsu Coast Guard Station dispatched the patrol vessel Hayagumo (100 gross tons). After the release, the crew recovered the abandoned net.
Another Drama Six Years Later
The 7th Regional Coast Guard shared the turtle-rescue video on social media on July 28 to raise awareness about ghost gear pollution.
In August 2019, officers from the same headquarters freed two turtles tangled in fishing nets off Tsushima. But this time, the response was even greater. The clip has been viewed more than 850,000 times.
Furthermore, the video drew unexpected responses. The Hitakatsu Coast Guard Station, Japan's closest to South Korea, primarily handles border security, monitoring foreign vessels, and enforcing maritime law. Many viewers were surprised to learn that its duties extend beyond saving human lives. Others offered praise, invoking the legend of Urashima Taro with comments such as, "You'll be invited to Ryugu Castle!"
"Ghost gear harms not only marine ecosystems but also the safe navigation of vessels. Please refrain from dumping unwanted waste or fishing gear at sea," an official from the 7th Regional Headquarters said.
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Author: Kenta Shiraiwa, The Sankei Shimbun
(Read this in Japanese)
