DENR reminds beach resort owners vs. catching pawikan

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources over the weekend reminded beach resort owners against catching pawikan (sea turtles) and using them as attractions.

DENR officials in Western Visayas issued the reminder after learning of a pawikan being tied and reportedly used as an attraction in Jordan in Guimaras, GMA Iloilo reported.

A DENR team went to the Natago beach resort to investigate one such case after a YouScooper pointed it out earlier this week.

But the resort's owner said they had already released the pawikan.

The DENR considers Barangay Sinapsapan in Jordan town in Guimaras a sanctuary for pawikan.

As such, it said the turtles cannot be caught and kept, much less kept as attractions – and instead must be allowed to swim freely.

So far, the DENR said the owners of two beach resorts in Guimaras had been charged for keeping pawikan. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News