In recent weeks, an alarming number of reports have been filed through the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel’s (SPNI) SeaWatch app about injured sea turtles along Israel’s coast. One such report described a turtle spotted off the shores of Ashdod entangled in marine debris, with a plastic thread from a bag dangling from its mouth.
The alert was automatically forwarded to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority’s National Sea Turtle Rescue Center, while the reporter, Tomer, and another bystander, Dudi, remained with the animal until it was collected. The authority said the turtle, nicknamed “Oriyan,” is a young green sea turtle weighing 600 grams. It arrived at the rescue center weak and emaciated, suffering injuries to its right front and left rear flippers caused by entanglement in the plastic bag.
8 View gallery
The Ashdod turtle at the rescue center
(Photo: Sea Turtle Rescue Center, Israel's Nature & Parks Authority)
One of the plastic threads protruding from its mouth was carefully removed. Thanks to volunteers Dafna Klomek and Moshe Avni, the turtle was rushed to the rescue center late in the evening and received medical treatment.
“It’s important to know that if you find a turtle tangled in debris, do not remove the plastic or return it to the sea,” said Guy Ivgi, the center’s head caretaker. “Cutting the debris is like releasing a tourniquet — it can lead to sepsis and pathogens entering the bloodstream, often resulting in systemic infection and death without medical intervention.”
Oriyan will undergo X-rays in the coming days to rule out additional internal injuries, such as swallowed fishing hooks. The turtle faces a long rehabilitation process and is expected to be released back into the wild next spring.
Currently, dozens of sea turtles are being treated at the rescue center for injuries caused by entanglement in plastic waste, much of which is believed to come from livestock transport ships entering Israel. Dr. Yaniv Levy, director of the center, emphasized the importance of leaving tangled debris in place. “As in Oriyan’s case, when swelling or necrosis begins, we administer antibiotics before removing the material,” Levy explained. “In advanced cases, we must surgically amputate the affected limb.”
The case joins several other recent reports submitted through the SeaWatch app — including a dead turtle found with a fishing line in its mouth on Ma’agan Michael Beach and another caught on a fishing hook in Haifa that was released by fishermen, with its fate unknown.
According to Bar Sternbach, SPNI’s SeaWatch coordinator, marine plastic pollution poses a growing danger. “About 12 million tons of plastic waste enter the oceans each year, and fishing gear makes up about 10% of it,” he said. “Roughly 5.7% of nets, 8.6% of traps and 29% of fishing lines are lost annually. Around a third of all shallow-water debris is abandoned fishing gear. Data from the Nature and Parks Authority show that some 3,000 sea turtles are entangled every year in nets and fishing hooks along Israel’s coast.”
8 View gallery
The turtle from Ma’agan Michael
(Photo: From report on the SeaWatch app, Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel)
8 View gallery
Sea turtle caught in rope in Bat Galim, Haifa
(Photo: Report by Tal Raz on the SeaWatch app)
Sternbach stressed that “hook-and-line fishing isn’t selective — it catches not only target fish but also vulnerable and protected species, including sharks and sea turtles. Beyond enforcement and education, we need systemic solutions — expanding no-fishing marine reserves, using circular hooks to reduce ingestion and managing fishing pressure in sensitive areas.”
He added that no-fishing zones allow marine life to recover and help reduce harm to protected species — though, he noted, “there’s no way to completely eliminate the impact of fishing on nature.”
The SeaWatch app, developed by the SPNI, allows the public to report marine hazards and wildlife sightings in real time, helping protect Israel’s Mediterranean and Red Sea ecosystems. Since its launch, the app has been downloaded by over 20,000 users, generating more than 5,500 reports — including cases of illegal fishing, pollution, and injured marine animals.
Users can also report wildlife observations — from invasive species to crabs, sea turtles and marine mammals — with each report automatically sent to the relevant authorities. Reporter details remain confidential, enabling anyone with a love for the sea to play an active role in marine conservation.
8 View gallery
Sea turtle injured by fishing net, treated and returned to the wild
(Photo: Report via SeaWatch app, Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel)
8 View gallery
Sea turtle injured by fishing line and died
(Photo: Report via SeaWatch app, Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel)
If you find a sea turtle injured or entangled in fishing lines or plastic waste, do not attempt to free it yourself. Bring it directly to the National Sea Turtle Rescue Center in Mikhmoret, contact the Israel Nature and Parks Authority hotline at 3639 for guidance or report it through the SeaWatch app.