The New York Marine Rescue Center in Riverhead is celebrating its largest sea turtle release of the season.

Nine rehabilitated turtles were released back to the ocean on Wednesday afternoon. Among them were six green sea turtles and three Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. Kemp’s turtles are one of the most endangered sea turtle species in the world.

Organizers say this group has been at the rescue center since last winter, when cold ocean temperatures prevented them from swimming home.

"The hope is that we want to see them move south, of course...and offshore, and get out of these waters before it gets too cold,” says executive director Maxine Montello.

Three of the turtles were given satellite tags, which help collect data on post-release behaviors and habitat use.