Recent News
Fishermen split by reef predator reportThursday, May 11, 2017
The surest way to secure Bermuda’s reef fishing industry is to impose further restrictions and a ban on the sale of certain species according to lifelong fisherman Alan Card.
Rescue plan could stress out turtles
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
A plan to relocate sea turtles in advance of the America’s Cup has sparked concerns from environmentalists about the impact on the animals’ health.
Greenrock On Relocation Plan For Sea Turtles
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
“Greenrock was surprised by the announcement to capture and relocate sea turtles from the Great Sound for May and June, it is certainly an interesting initiative, and one that raises some questions for consideration,” Greenrock Executive Director Jonathan Starling said.
Great Sound turtles ‘moving home’ for Cup
Monday, May 08, 2017
Sea turtles are being temporarily relocated from the Great Sound to keep them out of harm’s way during the America’s Cup.
Sea Turtles Being ‘Temporarily Relocated’
Sunday, May 07, 2017
[Updated] In “anticipation of intense boating activity in the Great Sound,” the America’s Cup Bermuda is “coordinating a temporary sea turtle relocation project,” in which “sea turtles will be netted based on methods used successfully for turtle tagging operations and temporarily relocated inside a purpose-built ocean enclosure” near the Aquarium in Flatts.
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Latest News
All the latest updates and news from the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo, one of Bermuda's leading visitor attractions!
By Mark Prior
Published Aug. 14, 2013 at 8:00 am
Out to sea: The lone dolphin spotted at Somerset Long Bay
has now swum away from the area.
A dolphin feared stranded in Somerset Long Bay has left the area.
Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo principal curator Ian Walker said he, along with representatives from Dolphin Quest, the Fisheries Department and the Bermuda Police Service, followed the dolphin eastward until it was out of sight.
“We followed the dolphin at a distance and we lost sight of him eastward off King’s Point,” he said.
The team was called to Somerset Long Bay yesterday after members of the public reported seeing a dolphin within three feet of shore.
People were warned to stay away from the animal if they saw it.
US expert Trevor Spradlin told The Royal Gazette that the dolphin’s unusual behaviour may have been caused by the morbillivirus which caused 201 bottlenose dolphins to wash up dead along the Mid-Atlantic coast this year.
“It was first and foremost in my mind,” Dr Walker agreed. “We didn’t want this dolphin near any of our marine mammals because certain types of diseases can spread to other collections — we were prepared to keep it away from other animals.”
A decision was made not to catch the animal because it didn’t beach itself or display deteriorated behaviour, he said.
As a result, authorities weren’t able to determine why the dolphin wasn’t travelling in a pod, or whether it was infected with disease.
Because it wasn’t necessary to catch the dolphin, “we weren’t able to determine the age, weight, sex, or species of dolphin”, Dr Walker said.
“We think it was a common dolphin, but we don’t have a firm ID on it,” he added.
“We hope this dolphin, which appeared to be juvenile, has made it past the reef by now and hopefully be able to make a living for itself.”
Dr Walker said a pool would remain at Cambridge Beaches for the next two days in case the dolphin returns and needs proper assessment.