FSU Panama City 2013 STEM Camp Aids in Sea Turtle Rescue

Florida State University Panama City STEM Institute’s 2013 Summer STEM Camps aided in the rescue of a sea turtle on June 26, 2013. The STEM camp took high school students from the surrounding area on a boat trip around the bay area to teach important practices of marine science, including how to operate the sonar system, when members of the faculty spotted a sea turtle amongst some sea grass. The sea turtle was found to be tangled in fishing line.

“I noticed that the sea turtle was having some trouble and didn’t look very good,” Mike Zinszer explained. Zinszer is the Director of the Advanced Science Diving Program and Diving Safety Office at Florida State University Panama City. He was accompanying the STEM camp as an instructor when the sea turtle was found.

The turtle was pulled into the boat along with the students and faculty. The fishing line was wrapped around the body of the sea turtle with the majority around its neck and fins, which made it difficult for the turtle to swim. The line was cut away as the students watched.

The local National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was contacted to bring the turtle in for observation. NOAA is working alongside Gulf World Marine Park who has a sea turtle rescue program and will likely be in charge of rehabilitation.

“The student did a great job today and it was such an exciting day for everyone. It was a wonderful thing to experience.” Mike Zinszer said.

The sea turtle after the fishing line had been cut away.

The STEM camp students with the rescued sea turtle.