The return took place aboard the Portuguese Navy's NRP Sagitário, approximately 12 nautical miles off the coast of Portimão, outside the zone of greatest fishing effort.

Wave was delivered last May by RALVT – the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region Stranding Network – to the care of Zoomarine's Porto d'Abrigo. It arrived there with symptoms associated with plastic ingestion, which reinforces the awareness of the real and direct impact of marine pollution on wildlife.

From 9.8 kg and 39 cm in carapace length recorded upon arrival at Porto d'Abrigo, Wave recovered to 11.6 kg and 41.9 cm, presenting all the clinical and behavioral conditions to return to the sea.

Last Friday, Zoomarine's Porto d'Abrigo returned another loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) to the ocean after two months of intensive care and rehabilitation. The operation took place aboard the Portuguese Navy's NRP Sagitário, under the command of First Lieutenant Mira Pinhão, which departed from the Portimão Naval Support Point.

The protagonist of this return was Wave, a juvenile turtle rescued on May 14, 2025, by locals who promptly contacted RALVT – the Stranding Network of the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Region, which in turn placed her in the care of Zoomarine's Porto D'Abrigo.

Wave arrived suffering from buoyancy issues and dehydration—symptoms that clinical assessments linked to plastic ingestion, one of the greatest threats to marine life. During her rehabilitation, she excreted several plastic fragments, providing clear evidence of the impact marine pollution has on ocean ecosystems.

In her first 24 hours, she received oxygen therapy to prevent decompression sickness. Despite remaining abnormally buoyant during the initial days, she consistently showed a strong appetite and gradually resumed diving and feeding at the bottom of the recovery pool.

From an initial weight of 9.8 kg and a carapace length of 39 cm upon arrival at Porto d’Abrigo, Wave recovered to 11.6 kg and 41.9 cm. She ultimately met all the clinical and behavioral criteria for a safe return to the sea.

The return took place approximately 12 nautical miles off the coast of Portimão, outside the zone of greatest fishing effort, minimizing risks to the turtle. To enable future identification, the sea turtle was fitted with rings on its front flippers and a microchip, ensuring identification even after the rings were lost due to growth or saltwater erosion.

The operation was supported by the Portuguese Navy and the ICNF – Institute for Nature and Forest Conservation, both crucial entities in Zoomarine's marine conservation mission.

This return reinforces Zoomarine's ongoing commitment to preserving marine biodiversity, with Porto d'Abrigo being the first marine species rehabilitation centre in Portugal, established in 2002.