Fishing lines protruding from cloaca are often found in rescued sea turtles (McArthur, 2004).

Although fishing lines alone can themselves produce necrotizing lesions of the intestine lumen (Di Bello., et al. 2016; Di Bello., et al. 2013), If the hook is not present on radiographs and there is no evidence of constipation, a conservative treatment could be taken in consideration instead of a surgical approach.

The use of mineral oil per os helps the progression of the fishing lines without hook inside the intestines (McArthur, 2004; Wineken., et al. 2005 ).

Moreover the authors have found useful to connect the end of the fishing line to a fishing float to achieve a slight and regular traction force helping to discharge the fishing line. Different size of fishing float can be used depending on the traction force you want to apply. The fishing float has to be connected approximately at 20 cm from the cloaca in order to not interfere with defecation and rear flippers movements (Figure 1). Moreover the turtle can be able to completely submerge and freely swim with this device attached (Figure 2). Authors have noticed that when the fishing  float is too big and consequently the traction force applied is too much, turtles’ appetite decreases.

You can value the progression of the fishing line measuring the length of the fishing line protruding from the cloaca. Ultrasound and cloacoscopy can help to monitor the presence of lesions in the intestines in the meanwhile. With this method authors have succeeded most of the time to expel all the fishing lines from cloaca without hook in sea turtles rescued. This conservative approach should be taken in consideration whenever possible in authors’ opinion.

Acknowledgments
The Sea Turtles First Aid Center of Favignana (TP) is managed by the Marine Protected Area Egadi islands in cooperation with environmental associations WWF Italia onlus and Legambiente onlus. It was established thanks to grants from Ministry of the Environment, Federparchi-Fondo per la Biodiversità, Riomare and thanks to income of Marine Protected Area. This first aid sea turtles Center thanks to grants from the European Project Tartalife will become a Sea Turtles Rescued Center by 2018.