ROXAS City – Two endangered green sea turtles were released back to the sea here recently.
Capiz governor Esteban Evan Contreras led the release in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Capiz Provincial ENR Office and the Philippine Coast Guard.
The green sea turtle is one of the largest sea turtles and the only herbivore among the different species. It is named after the greenish color of its cartilage and fat, not its shell.
One of the two turtles was named Rosela after the governor’s mother and the other was called Evalyn.
Before the turtles were released to the sea, authorities made sure they were in good condition.
Tags were also put on the turtles.
Classified as endangered, green sea turtles are threatened by overharvesting of their eggs, hunting of adults, being caught in fishing gear and loss of nesting beach sites.
Rosela was caught in the waters of Sapian, Capiz. It measured 89 cm in length and 78 cm in width.
Evalyn, on the other hand, was caught in Ivisan, Capiz. It measured 79cm in length and 72 cm in width.
Contreras urged the public, especially fisherfolks, to turn over to the authorities endangered sea turtles they may inadvertently catch.
Green sea turtles are found mainly in tropical and subtropical waters. Like other sea turtles, they migrate long distances between feeding grounds and the beaches from where they hatched.
Green sea turtles graze on seagrasses and algae, which maintains the seagrass beds and makes them more productive (much like mowing the lawn to keep it healthy).
Seagrass consumed by green turtles is quickly digested and becomes available as recycled nutrients to the many species of plants and animals that live in the sea grass ecosystem. Seagrass beds also function as nurseries for several species of invertebrates and fish, many of which are of considerable value to commercial fisheries and therefore important to human food security./PN
