A LEATHERBACK turtle a species more normally associated with the balmy, turquoise waters of the Caribbean has been recorded for the first time in the seas off Gairloch in Wester Ross. The two-metre reptile was spotted by passenger Mike Cleavin when he took a two hour survey cruise with Gairloch Marine Life Centre and Cruises on Tuesday. At first he thought the creature was a seal but as the animal swam closer to the boat the eleven passengers and guide Ian French, a marine biologist, were able to clearly identify it as a leatherback turtle. "It was a really thrilling moment," Mr French said. "We've been running survey cruises in the area since 1989 and this is the first time a leatherback turtle has been recorded in this area. "This rounded head just popped up out of the water about five metres form the boat. Mike Cleavin spotted it and pointed, thinking at first it was a seal. Then we realised it was a turtle. "It dived down then resurfaced again about 10 metres away from the boat. There were 11 passengers on board the boat and we all saw it. "I've worked with leatherbacks in Florida and am 100% certain thats what it was," Mr French added. The leatherback is the largest of the marine turtles and gets its name from the black, leathery skin that covers its shell. Leatherbacks are unique amongst reptiles in that they have some internal control of their own body temperature, so can forage in temperatures lower than 5 degrees C and can dive to depths of over one kilometre. They are usually about two metres long and weigh around 600 kgs. Five species of marine turtle have been recorded in UK and Irish waters. Leatherbacks are the most commonly sighted marine turtle species in UK seas, usually seen during the summer, and are believed to migrate thousands of kilometres across the Atlantic Ocean to feed on our abundant jellyfish. "Leatherbacks generally come on a two year cycle, following the Gulf Stream from places like Costa Rica and Venezuela," Mr French explained. "They're attracted by jellyfish however we havent been seeing the same quantities of jellyfish this year which makes this sighting all the more unusual." This is the fifth sighting of a leatherback this year in UK waters records have been unusually scarce this year with only two live sightings in English waters, one live turtle spotted in Scottish waters and one found dead after being stranded on Scottish shores. For more information on about turtles and report future turtle sightings in Scottish waters online at www.euroturtle.org/turtlecode or to Scottish Natural Heritage on 0131 447 4784.
