Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte—Local fisher folks here believe that catching a sea turtle brings bad luck that it must be neutralized by an atang (food offering) to eliminate the supposed curse. Bella Abdun had this in mind when she and a group of fishermen in Barangay Baruyen discovered that their fishnet accidentally trapped two hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) along Pagudpud bay recently. Instead of butchering the sea turtles, Abdun immediately alerted village officials of their catch. “We made an offering several times because we were told that once sea turtles find their way to our fishnets, no more catch will follow,” she said. Abdun would later realize that sea turtle preservation is a worldwide effort because of its dwindling population caused by various threats. Humans butcher hawksbill turtles because they find their shells highly attractive, which could be turned to cabinets, doorposts and hand mirrors. In Japan for example, trading of bekko (a Japanese word for hawksbill shell) is said to be rampant. Turtle eggs are also considered highly desirable because they are supposed to be superior to chicken eggs. The hawksbill turtle is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. A website on sea turtle conservation said that severe declines were noted in the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean region. Despite protective legislation, international trade in hawksbill shells and subsistence use of meat and eggs continue in many countries and pose a significant threat to the survival of the species. The turtles were temporarily tied along the shallow waters off Pagudpud beach and alternately monitored by village folks for three days before they were released in deep sea on October 20. The return of the endangered creatures to the sea coincided with the International Coastal Clean up Day last September 29. The coastal clean up was a collaborative effort among Pagudpud residents led by Mayor Marlon Sales, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Provincial Agricultural Office, the College of Arts and Sciences of the Mariano Marcos State University and other volunteer divers. Sales led a team of scuba divers who scoured underwater debris along Saud Beach, a popular resort in Pagudpud. Arthur Valente, of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, said the sea turtles, both females, could have been looking for a place to nest along the Pagudpud beach when they were captured. “They had minor bruises on their flippers probably due to their being tied. They were a little weak from stress, but they were in good condition when they were released,” Valente said. The bigger turtle, 60-70 years old, measures 21 inches in length and 14 inches in width while the smaller one is estimated to be 25-30 years old and measures 14 inches in length and nine inches in width. Scuba diver Wilnorie Rasay, a marine biology professor of MMSU, said the sea turtles were probably transitory and were visiting coastal areas where the coral reef system is in good condition. “They feed on sea grasses and jelly fishes. Their presence is an indication that the marine resource in Pagudpud is in good condition,” he said. Rasay, also coordinator of MMSU’s coastal resource management extension program, said sea turtles have also been sighted in the coastal towns of Badoc, Currimao and Pasuquin. The towns have been part of MMSU’s coastal management program. A website on sea turtles show that coral reefs are the resident foraging grounds of hawksbills which exist on a diet of sponges—commonly found on the solid substrate of reef systems. Ledges and caves of reef systems provide sea turtles with shelter for resting during the day and night. Hawksbills can be found around rocky outcrops and high-energy shoals, which are optimum sites for sponge growth. Based on the worldwide recovery plan for hawksbill turtles in the United States, Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and Gulf of Mexico, the six-month nesting season of the hawksbill is longer than other sea turtles and occurs between July and October. The National Marine Fisheries Service in St. Petersburg, Florida said that Hawksbills nest on low-and high-energy beaches in tropical oceans of the world, frequently sharing high-energy beaches with green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). Hawksbills will nest on small pocket beaches and, because of their small body size and agility, can cross fringing reefs that limit access by other species. Their nesting behavior follows a general sequence of that of other species of sea turtles: emergence from the sea, site selection, site clearing and pit construction, egg chamber construction, egg laying, filling in the egg chamber, disguising the nest site, and returning to sea. The entire process takes about 1 to 3 hours. Valente said hawksbill turtles indicate strong attachment to specific nesting beach areas and will return to the same area season after season. He said the frequent sighting of sea turtles in Ilocos Norte shores calls for the identification of sea turtle sanctuary to ensure their growth and protection. He said there had been reports of sea turtles being caught on previous occasions but their capture were not documented. “This is the first incident that village folks reported their catch to authorities. We attribute this to their growing awareness on marine resource preservation,” he said. Recently, Pagudpud residents underwent a training course for fish wardens to help in the enforcement of fishery laws. Common fishery law violations along local waters include dynamite and cyanide fishing, use of fine mesh nets, abuse of coastal habitat and overfishing. Cristina Arzadon, (PIA News Service-Ilocos)
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