PAGUDPUD: Villagers and personnel of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) on Tuesday rescued a distressed hawksbill sea turtle weighing almost two kilograms in Sitio Banquero in Barangay Pancian in this municipality. Jose Morata, MENRO chief, told the Philippine News Agency that the turtle was accidentally caught in the net of some local fisherfolk early in the morning. In coordination with the municipal environment office and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) office in the adjacent town of Bangui, the marine turtle was safely released into the sea.
According to Philippines News Agency, Morata expressed gratitude to environment volunteers, particularly Jesus Calipjo and the members of the Pancian-Pasaleng-Adams Developers Association, for their role in rescuing the sea turtle. He noted that a clip tag was not available at the time of the turtle's release.
On June 15, another marine turtle was rescued in Pasaleng Bay also in Pagudpud. Since January this year, five others caught in fisherfolk's nets have been released in Ayoyo Cove, Caparispisan, also in Pagudpud. With the ongoing information and education drive on environment protection, particularly the sea turtle conservation initiatives of the Pawikan-Bangui Pawikan Conservation Group led by the North Luzon Renewables and NorthWind Power, more sea turtles, colloquially known as "pawikan," are being sighted in the area, particularly during the nesting season.
Aside from proper documentation, tagging, and the subsequent release of sea turtles caught in nets, the conservation project also includes searching for turtle eggs and securing the nests until hatchlings find their way back to the sea. The Philippine Aquatic Wildlife Rescue and Response Manual Series published by the Marine Wild Fauna Watch of the Philippines, Inc. identifies seven species of marine turtles in the world. Six of these species are found in Southeast Asia, five of which can be found in the Philippines. Three of these species can be found in Ilocos Norte, namely the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), and olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea).
