Gil Viloria, of the Philippine Environmental Governance (EcoGov) Project, a US-funded environment organization with a management office here, said that fishermen from Barangay Borlongan in Dipaculao, Aurora returned to the sea a 25-kilo female pawikan, which was earlier accidentally hooked by one Jose Suaverdez.
The prized catch, he said, was later identified as a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas).
The pawikan is identified as one of the world’s critically endangered sea species, Viloria said.
"Efforts of the municipality to educate its people about the importance of conserving marine resources appear to be paying off as evident in their voluntary release of the endangered pawikan despite attempts by some enterprising individuals to sell it for a substantial amount," he said.
Pawikan fetches a very high price because of its reported medicinal value.
Lapitan said it was the third time that a pawikan was caught in the village. — Charlie Lagasca