OFFICIALS say 299 juvenile green sea turtles have died at a government-funded breeding farm in the Cayman Islands.

The Cayman Turtle Farm in West Bay says the turtles died this week after a water line broke and affected water supply to several tanks.

Officials said water stopped flowing as crews repaired the pipe and that a backup system failed.

Officials said the turtles that died represent less than 5 per cent of the turtles at the farm.

The farm has roughly 490 turtles for breeding and more than 7000 as part of a release program.

Originally published as 299 turtles die in mishap