PATTAYA, THAILAND – A heavily entangled sea turtle was rescued in a time-critical operation in Pattaya Bay on New Year’s Day.
Emergency call from Pattaya Bay
Around 1 p.m., the Pattaya Marine Disaster Prevention Center received an emergency call from a speedboat operator, who reported an apparently helpless animal about 150 meters off the coast. A specialized maritime rescue team was dispatched in an inflatable boat and found a large sea turtle in the middle of the bay, struggling in the water and clearly in distress.
Multiple layers of fishing net around the body
According to the rescuers, the turtle was estimated to be around ten years old and weighed about 50 kilograms. Several layers of fishing net had wrapped tightly around its body, severely restricting its movement.
The team lifted the turtle on board and immediately began freeing it. Using knives, they carefully cut the net away from the shell and flippers to avoid further injuries.
Cleansing and return to natural habitat
In addition to removing the net, the team cleaned the animal, scraping off barnacles and other growth from its shell before returning the turtle to the sea. The rescuers then transported it further out towards a coral reef, a natural habitat for sea turtles in the region, where it was released back into the wild.
“If we had arrived later …”
The 28-year-old Peerasak Rattanliam, a marine disaster protection worker in Pattaya who took part in the mission, described the intensity of the situation in comments to the media.
“We set off immediately when the call from the boat operator came in.”
said Peerasak Rattanliam, marine disaster protection worker.
“When we arrived and saw that the turtle was still alive, we were hopeful. If we had arrived later, it probably would not have survived.”
said Peerasak Rattanliam, marine disaster protection worker.
Endangered species in heavily used coastal waters
Pattaya Bay and nearby Jomtien Beach were described as areas with a significant population of sea turtles, with the island of Koh Khram in the vicinity serving as an important nesting and retreat site. Sea turtles are legally protected in Thailand, and the operation underscored what rescuers saw as the ongoing threat posed by abandoned or active fishing gear in coastal waters.
They cited the risk of entanglement in nets and lines, restricted movement and breathing, and life-threatening injuries caused by constriction. For the marine rescue team, the successful mission marked a particularly positive start to the New Year and was described as an important action in protecting an endangered species.
Rescue highlights broader concern over fishing gear
Despite the fortunate outcome in Pattaya Bay, the rescuers pointed to the wider problem of lost or carelessly used fishing nets becoming silent death traps for marine animals. The case raised questions over whether individual rescues are enough or whether stricter rules and controls are needed to better protect the seas from hazardous fishing gear.