On May 7, 2010, the Dongsha Management Station of the Marine National Park Headquarters (hereinafter referred to as the Headquarters), in cooperation with the Dongsha Detachment of the Fifth Maritime Patrol Brigade under the Coast Guard Administration and the Dongsha Command of the Southern Patrol Office, jointly rescued two juvenile green sea turtles that had become entangled in abandoned fishing nets. After examination and measurement, the turtles were immediately released back into the sea.
While conducting a maritime patrol on May 7, the Dongsha Detachment discovered a drifting fishing net in the southwestern waters of Dongsha Atoll (near the southern channel entrance), with two sea turtles approximately 50 centimeters in carapace length entangled in it. To determine the species and maturity of the turtles, the detachment brought both the turtles and the net back to Dongsha Island and handed them over to conservation staff at the Dongsha Management Station for identification. After inspection and measurement, the Headquarters confirmed that both turtles were green sea turtles, each about 50 centimeters in length, indicating they were sub-adults. Digital photographs were also sent to Professor Cheng Yi-chun of the Institute of Marine Biology at National Taiwan Ocean University for further review, who confirmed that their condition was good. Following basic measurements, the turtles were promptly released. When carried to the side of the vessel and catching sight of the sea, the turtles suddenly began vigorously flapping their flippers, clearly revealing their longing for the ocean and freedom.
The Headquarters noted that the green sea turtle is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is also designated as a protected species in Taiwan. Except for nesting females that come ashore to lay eggs, sea turtles spend nearly their entire lives in the ocean. Green sea turtles require 20 to 50 years to reach maturity, with mature individuals measuring approximately 90 to 125 centimeters in carapace length. The sub-adult turtles rescued on this occasion are typically difficult to observe due to their smaller size and swift movements, unless accidentally caught or entangled in fishing gear. Fishing nets pose a serious threat, as they can prevent turtles from surfacing to breathe, leading to drowning. The successful joint rescue by the Coast Guard and the Headquarters serves as an exemplary conservation effort. Both agencies will continue to work together in marine conservation patrols. Moreover, Dongsha’s rich coral reef ecosystem and extensive seagrass beds provide ideal habitats for the growth of green sea turtles, further demonstrating the effectiveness of conservation efforts at Dongsha Atoll.
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