West Orange Nonprofit Releases Two Sea Turtles Off Jersey Shore

WEST ORANGE, NJ – Two sea turtles were released back into the ocean this week, continuing a summer tradition along the Jersey Shore.

On Wednesday morning, Sea Turtle Recovery release two rehabilitated turtles near Water Street at Point Pleasant Beach.

Due to water temperatures and sea turtle migrations, turtles can only be released in New Jersey from June to September. During the rest of the year, Sea Turtle Recovery travels to southern states to release sea turtles.

The non-profit partners with Jenkinson's Aquarium and Jenkinsons' Boardwalk to ensure a safe release for their sea turtles.

One of the turtles suffered from fungal pneumonia and the other suffered a severe lung infection after becoming cold-stunned in November. Cold-stunned is a condition where the sea turtle's body systems begin to shut down when they failed to migrate before water temperatures became too cold.

“Since early 2020, Covid-19 has made it impossible to have a public release. Sea Turtle Recovery is excited to once again share a glimpse of the work that our nonprofit does as these critically endangered turtles are recovered and released,” said Sea Turtle Recovery’s Co-Executive Officer, Bill Deerr, in a prepared statement.