DOTC-PCG: An endangered sea turtle, earlier trapped in a fisherman's net in Antique, was safely released at sea by the Coast Guard and representatives from the Municipal Environmental and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) as well as the Municipal Agriculture Office last Wednesday, February 5.

The female green sea turtle reportedly caught inside the fishing net of Keterio Orhada about 200 meters from the shoreline of Barangay Aras Asan, Sebaste, Antique.

Orhanda brought the turtle to the shore and reported it to the authorities.

Upon receipt of information from ENS ARTHUR EGINA PCGA (Ret), the personnel of Coast Guard Station (CGS) Lipata immediately proceeded to the area to verify the report.

A brief examination revealed that it is a green sea turtle with scientific name "Chelonian Mydas" and was described to be 26 inches wide and 29 inches long with white spots on her back. The MENRO also tagged the turtle with a stainless plate marked "DENR-Sebaste"/

At around 11:30 AM of the same date, CGS Lipata personnel together with Mr Edzel Dajay Jr., representative from MENRO, Fish Warden Thomas Donis of the Municipal Agricultures Office and Mr Richard Esparagoza, eventually released the endangered sea turtle to the sea.

CGS Lipata personnel returned to proper station without any other incident reported.