William Floyd students help send ‘Floyd’ the seal back to sea at Tiana Beach

More than 35 students from William Floyd Middle School gathered at Tiana Beach in Hampton Bays last month to send off a seal they helped rehabilitate alongside Riverhead’s New York Marine Rescue Center.

The young gray seal, affectionately named “Floyd” by the students, had spent the past few months recovering under the care of the NY Marine Rescue Center’s team of marine biologists. The release took place on Tuesday, May 20, from 5 to 7 p.m., and was part of a continued partnership between the center and Canon U.S.A., which supports marine animal rescues and environmental conservation efforts.

As the students cheered, Floyd made its way across the sand and back into the ocean — now equipped with a satellite tag that will allow biologists to track the seal’s movements. The tag helps scientists learn more about how marine animals use their habitats, how deep they dive, and how long they spend out of the water. Since 2013, the organization has been tagging animals to support marine research and inform environmental policy.

Canon’s involvement doesn’t end at the shoreline. Each year, the company helps students document their experience by assisting them in writing and illustrating a book about the seal’s journey. Canon then prints and binds the book for distribution.

The NY Marine Rescue Center is the only facility in New York State licensed to rehabilitate seals, sea turtles, dolphins, porpoises, and small-toothed whales. Research and rescue efforts are supported using Canon technologies such as digital SLRs, camera lenses, network cameras, and printers to monitor marine life around Long Island.

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