HMS Spey's crew give turtles helping hand as part of conservation initiative

Royal Navy sailors from HMS Spey have been taking part in a rather unusual sea launch, releasing dozens of tiny baby turtles into Indonesian waters.

The first steps are crucial for newly hatched turtles, so having a safe pair of hands to guide them into the sea helps their chances of survival.

"Our Indonesia hosts explained to us the importance of marine life to the local ecosystem," said Able Rating William Lonergan.

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"We were all given a baby turtle to release, mine was called Terry," he said.

"Helping him find his bearing towards his ocean habitat is an experience I'll never forget."

The UK sailors teamed up with personnel from Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines to release the turtles at Nusa Dua Beach in Bali.

The conservation day also involved clearing up plastic waste which is potentially hazardous to the endangered sea creatures.

The initiative was led by the Indonesian Navy to highlight the impact of climate change and human behaviour on marine ecosystems.

Sailors from Spey also learned about a local scheme to replant coral reefs which are vital to all marine life.

"It was a privilege to be part of today's demonstration of our multinational commitment with defence partners to protect and rejuvenate the maritime ecosystems we all depend on," said Lieutenant Andrew Yarwood.

"As the greenest ship in the Royal Navy, HMS Spey is an exemplar of using modern technology to operate in a sustainable manner."

Leading Hand Kasey Easson was among a group of sailors helping to plant mangroves, an important natural resource in Bali, protecting coastal areas from extreme weather and erosion.

"Individually our actions may seem small but our combined efforts with our allies and partners, working together, we can have a real impact in addressing the environment security challenges that affect us all globally," he said.