WATCH: Rehabilitated Sea Turtles Returned To Gulf Of Mexico

TARPON SPRINGS, FL – After two years of rehabilitation at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium,Marigold is back home in the Gulf of Mexico.

Marigold is a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, a critically endangered species. In October 2017. she was found by a fisherman on the Cotee River badly injured after being struck by the propeller of a boat motor. Marigold’s left lung was partially exposed by a propeller blade gouge on her top shell. She had additional wounds on her bottom shell.

She was taken to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium for treatment for her injuries, which the staff at the aquarium have seen all too often.

Many of the marine animals that the aquarium rescues have signs of boat strike injuries. Turtles, dolphins and manatees are especially vulnerable to being injured by a boat because they often have to come to the surface to breathe air.

Boat strikes can lead to the loss of a limb or fin, amputation or a cracked shell. Sea turtles often get air trapped in their body cavity or carapace (shell) after a boat strike, which can lead to buoyancy or flotation problems.

With her shell now healed, the staff and volunteers at the aquarium bid Marigold farewell on Tuesday and released her into the Gulf of Mexico at Fred Howard Park.

Marigold, however, wasn't alone. At the same time, the aquarium released Echo and Papa, two endangered sea turtles that had been living at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium while they were treated for the Fibropapilloma virus. They were rescued in January on Hudson Beach. Both had tumors from the virus and had to undergo surgery to have them removed.

There were approximately 70 reported cases of sea turtles with suspected boat strike injuries in the Florida Gulf Coast area in 2016, according to data from the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network.

The aquarium is currently treating four other turtles for boat strike injuries.

Here's how boaters can help prevent injuries to marine life:

• Designate a spotter when boating to look out for marine life and signs
• Observe and follow all slow speed or no wake signs and zones
• Try to stay in deep-water channels whenever possible.
• Avoid boating over seagrass beds and shallow areas
• Be alert and aware of sea turtle nesting times when boating near beaches
• Wear polarized sunglasses to reduce glare on the surface of the water, which will enable you to see marine animals more easily.

If you see an injured turtle, contact the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Rescue Hotline at (727) 441-1790 Ext. 1.

Video via Clearwater Marine Aquarium