Dear SMART Members and Friends,
A quiet week overall, with only two calls requiring response — both on the final day of the reporting period (1 March 2026). Conditions were challenging, with rough seas and strong winds affecting operations.
Incident 1 — Seal Sighting, Tergniet Beach
📍 Location: Tergniet Beach 🕗 Time: Morning 👤 Responder: Jèlane
- A member of the public reported a seal seen high up on the beach at Tergniet.
- Jèlane responded and conducted a thorough patrol of the area in both directions — no seal was found.
- Conditions at the time: very rough seas and roaring winds. The seal most likely hauled out temporarily for rest and returned to the water before responders arrived. No intervention required.
Incident 2 — Turtle Report, Great Brak Estuary
📍 Location: Great Brak Estuary 🕔 Time: Afternoon 👤 Responder: Val
- A call was received reporting a turtle stranded in the Great Brak estuary.
- Val responded and located an object in the middle of the breached river mouth, under attack from 5 gulls.
- Wading across barefoot on the muddy riverbed, Val discovered the ‘turtle’ was in fact an enormous mud crab — missing one pincer but using its remaining claw with considerable effectiveness to defend itself against the gulls.
- The crab was safely relocated further up the estuary. Outcome: successful rescue. Side note: Val is reconsidering barefoot wading in future — a single pincer from this specimen could cause serious injury.
Till next week — keep well and stay safe. 🐾