Tanauan coast fast becoming sanctuary of sea turtles

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A big green sea turtle with the DENR tag PH-0983B TAG 00-Right, was released Monday morning, September 1, to its natural abode, off the coast of Tanauan, Leyte.

This green sea turtle is the latest in the already long list of sea turtles caught in the shores of Tanauan by local fishermen who are aware that pawikan or sea turtles belong to the endangered species and must be returned to the sea after being tagged by the DENR.

Mayor Roque Tiu informed that the green sea turtle which is 62 centimeters in length and 58 centimeters in width was caught by a fisherman by the name of Esteban Leonido from Barangay Cabuynan, in Tanauan on August 30.

Aware of the local government’s policy on the conservation of natural resources, the fisherman turned over the green sea turtle to the town’s Bantay Dagat who informed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources about it.

Mayor Tiu lauded the fishermen in Tanauan for their awareness in protecting the endangered species, the sea turtles. He said that sea turtles are referred to as the only living remnants of the dinosaur age, but maybe not for long. Unless sincere efforts are undertaken, sea turtles might follow the dinosaur to extinction.

Sea turtles, popularly known in the Philippines as pawikan, belong to the sub-order Cryptodira, and to the families Dermochelyidae and Cheloniidae. There are more than 220 species of turtles in the world, but only seven are considered marine (saltwater). Five of these species are present in the Philippines. These are the Green (Chelonia mydas). Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and the Leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea).

So far, two of the five species have been found in Tanauan, the green sea turtle which is the most common species in the Philippines and is found in all tropical and sub tropical seas; and the olive ridley which of the five species is considered carnivorous.

Mayor Tiu said that fast decline in the sea turtle population in the world has been caused by the so-called pawikan trade where thousands of sea turtles were plucked out of the wildlife to supply the heavy demand for turtle by-products such as wall décor, jewelry pieces, guitars, bags and shoes.

Sadly, despite the government’s Pawikan Conservation Project, pawikan hunting will remain unabated elsewhere unless people in the area cooperate, Mayor Tiu added.