THE green sea turtle rescued by fishermen in the City of Naga last Monday was released to the sea by local government officials yesterday.
The sea turtle, believed to be 10 years old, was released in the waters off Takot Daku Marine Sanctuary, situated just a few kilometers away from Barangay Tinaan.
The green sea turtle was found last Monday by fisherman tangled in fishing nets on the shore in Barangay South Poblacion.
Biologists Rainier Manligro and Shelumiel Purisima of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 inspected the turtle, measured and tagged it before it was released.
Officials from the city government of Naga and its local Bantay Dagat assisted the DENR during the release.
Eliza Navales of the City of Naga Agriculture Office said sea turtles come ashore during certain times of the year to lay eggs.
She said that last year, about 10 sea turtles were found by fishermen in coastal barangays.
She said local fisherfolk did not kill the marine creatures. They reported the sightings to the local government instead.
On New Year’s Day, fisherfolk found a 10-year-old olive ridley sea turtle in Barangay Tinaan. It was also tangled in fishing nets.