Fishermen rescue two Pawikans trapped in fishing net in Occidental Mindoro

A group of fishermen rescued two pawikans trapped in a fishing net in the waters of Occidental Mindoro.

As seen in Kuya Kim's report in "24 Oras" on Thursday, Joveljay Mellapis and his friends were about to go home from fishing when they found a fishing net floating in the sea.

"Tiningnan kung may laman na isda ang nakita po ay pawikan. Akala pa nga nila 'yung isang pawikan ay patay na," Mellapis said.

They immediately removed the trapped pawikans in the fishing net and released them into the sea.

"Successful 'yung kanilang pag-rescue doon sa pawikan. Nabitawan po nila nang maayos," he shared.

Per the report, the rescued pawikans are a sea green turtle and a hawksbill turtle which Mellapis suspected were trapped in a fishing net thrown or left by a large ship in the sea.

"'Yung lambat na yun ay anod po. Retaso na binitawan sa laot. Siguro 'yung pawikan ay nangangain doon ng isda. Bale na-trap sila doon sa lambat na iyon," Mellapis said.

"Dito kasi sa amin ay talagang dumadami ang problema. 'Yung nata-trap sila sa mga lambat na anod," he added.

According to Kuya Kim, ghost fishing refers to the trapping of sea creatures in abandoned fishing gear left in the ocean, such as nets.

It is a serious environmental problem, as it contributes to ocean pollution and endangers marine species that become entangled in the fishing gear. Unable to escape, these animals often die from starvation or suffocation.

"Puwede rin 'tong makahuli ng mga ng mga wildlife ito 'yung tinatawag na bycatch or hindi sinasadyang pagkahuli so dapat pakawalan agad 'yung mga mahuli," marine biologist Diovanie De Jesus explained.

"Kadalasan 'to galing 'to sa mga inabandona na mga nets puwede 'yung mga maliliit na mga mangingisda or puwede 'yung mga commercial fishers din." —Jade Veronique Yap/MGP, GMA Integrated News