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Three juvenile female endangered green sea turtles scientific Chelonia mydas were released yesterday into the sea after it was rescued in the coastal village of Ditinagyan in this town, environment authorities said.

Mary Jane Aragon, forest technician of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) based in Casiguran, Aurora said that the green sea turtles were accidentally trapped in a fishnet know as "baklad" owned by a local fisherfolk in the area.

"The fisherfolk immediately reported to us the incident to check and document the condition of the turtles," she said.

Upon examination, the DENR found out that the turtles have an average carapace lenght of 45 centimeters and weighs an average of eight (8) kilograms.

"They (turtles) sustain no injuries and in good condition so we released them immediately to the coastal waters after examination," she said.

Aragon explained that turtles were also tagged to monitor their feeding and nesting ground including their population, which are vital in marine turtle conservation.

She said the tag will also served as identification of the marine turtles.

Meanwhile, the DENR here appealed to the public to report similar incident and be vigilant in the protection and conservation of marine species and other wildlife.

Of the seven (7) species of marine turtles in the world, five (5) of them were found nesting in the coastal towns of Morong in Bataan, San Antonio in Zambales and in Aurora, all in Central Luzon.

Section 27 of the Republic Act 9147 also known as the "Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act" prohibits collecting, hunting and possessing of wildlife and their by products and derivatives.

Anyone found guilty of violating the wildlife law shall be imprisoned to a maximum of two years and shall be fined of up to P200,000, if inflicted against endangered species.