While on patrol on May 7 a Dongsha Command Post ROC coastguard ship found two turtles about 50 cm long trapped in a fishing net to the southwest of Dongsha Atoll. Examination showed them to be adolescent green turtles. Digital pictures were emailed back to National Marine University whose experts said the turtles were in good condition. They were measured and released immediately after.

The green turtle is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and is also protected in Taiwan. The adult mother turtles leave their ocean home to lay eggs so can be observed easily but other green turtles spend all their life at sea. From hatching they need 25-50 years to reach maturity and, when mature, have shells that are 90-125 cm long. The two turtles found on this occasion were small and fast moving so unless they are accidentally caught or trapped in nets they are very difficult to observe. Nets prevent the turtles reaching the surface to breathe so many die when caught in nets. This successful joint rescue by the coastguard and Marine National Park is a model example of the rescue of a protected species. Both organizations will continue to cooperate in effectively implementing marine conservation work.

Translated by：Kevin Lax
Source：Marine National Park Headquarters