Nuca, the turtle rescued two months ago from the port of Torrevieja, returns to the sea after recovering at the Oceanogràfic.

The sea turtle, rescued in February after becoming trapped in the port of Torrevieja, returned to the sea this morning after completing its recovery process at the ARCA del Mar at the Oceanogràfic of Valencia.

The release was carried out from a boat in the waters of Torrevieja, with the participation of the mayor, Eduardo Dolón; the councilor for the Environment and Beaches, Antonio Vidal; the municipal biologist, Juan Antonio Pujol; the president of the Real Club Náutico Torrevieja (RCNT), Carlos Carmona; and the veterinary team of the Oceanogràfic Foundation.

Eduardo Dolón congratulated the Oceanogràfic team for the great work they did in recovering Nuca, as well as the Municipal biologist and the RCNT, who have made it possible for this turtle to return to the waters where it was rescued a few months ago. He hopes that it will soon return to the Torrevieja coast to lay its eggs on one of our beaches.

A delicate rescue and a complete recovery

Nuca, as the turtle has been named, was found swimming inside the port of Torrevieja at the beginning of this year, 2025, where it remained trapped and feeding on the remains of fishing activity.

Its capture, carried out by specialized divers from the Oceanogràfic Foundation with the support of the municipal biologist and the Real Club Náutico Torrevieja, allowed the seriousness of its condition to be confirmed: the turtle had one of its fins amputated due to a previous injury and a hook lodged in its esophagus.

After being transferred to the Oceanogràfic, the veterinary team removed the hook using an endoscopy and began treatment to ensure his recovery. Nuca's positive progress over the past few months confirmed that he was fit to return to the sea.

Technology for conservation

Before the turtle entered the water, veterinarians fitted it with a satellite transmitter that will allow its movements to be monitored in real time. The goal is to collect data on its movements after rehabilitation and study its behavior, thereby contributing to improved protection strategies for this species.

This conservation project is supported by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge within the framework of the PRTR, funded by the European Union-NextGenerationEU.