Pawikan predators become protectors

Author: Delfin T. Mallari Jr.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

FROM a community that had long feasted on sea turtles, the people of Cagbalete
Island in Mauban, Quezon, have become protectors of the gentle marine creature.

"The transformation of the residents from predators to protectors of endangered
species is an inspiration," said Jay Lim, community coordinator of the Tanggol
Kalikasan-Southern Luzon, an environment legal defense center based in Lucena
City."It only shows that the government and an enlightened citizenry can make a great difference in environmental protection."

A video documentation by the Tanggol Kalikasan showed residents and barangay
officials of Cagbalete narrating their experiences with the marine turtles locally known as "pawikan." The island is 30 minutes by boat from Mauban, which faces the Lamon Bay where the pawikan thrives.

Five months ago, Mayor Fernando Llamas created the Task Force Kalikasan to stop
the widespread killing of the pawikan.

Llamas also formed the Bantay Pawikan and stationed it in Cagbalete to educate the villagers on environmental laws and the situation of sea turtles and other
endangered marine species that are also found in the Lamon Bay.

Section 97 of the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 prohibits "fishing or taking of rare, threatened or endangered species." Marine turtle poaching is punishable by 12 to 20 years imprisonment.

Endangered species

The pawikan is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and in the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

Cagbalete Councilor Juanito de la Cruz said that over the five months since the
Bantay Pawikan was established on the island, 19 turtles of different species had been released back into the sea. They include the binalimbing (leatherback sea turtle), sinisihan (green sea turtle), and palahan (hawksville), he said.

In the video footage, a young green sea turtle was shown being put back into the
sea amid joyful farewell by throngs of village children.

"We just attach a corresponding tag in its flippers and we immediately set the
creature free and back to the sea," De la Cruz said.

Last month, the village released at least 10 hatchlings, said another barangay
councilor, Aniceto Rapoli.

"Whenever a pawikan dies, we no longer butcher it. We bury the whole turtle to
emphasize to our people that eating them the way we used to is against the law," he said.

The residents recalled that in the past, no village fiesta was complete without serving pawikan meat as one of the special dishes, or as spicy "pulutan" (bar chow) in drinking sessions.

Roman Malabad, Cagbalete barangay chair, said that before the ban, the villagers
used to catch marine turtles with fish nets and spears, not only for home
consumption, but also for selling.

Lim said that former turtle hunters in the village had disclosed to him that they also accepted orders from whoever wanted to buy a big volume of pawikan meat.

"They sold the meat in kilos. The price would depend on the supply," he said.

The dried carapace of the sea turtle usually commanded at least P400 each from
souvenir hunters based in Manila.

Councilor Eddie Malubay, chair of the barangay council's committee on environment and natural resources, said the municipal government had also declared Cagbalete, with its long stretch of white-sand beach, a tourist destination.

Malabad said whale sharks (butanding), dolphins and sea cows had already been
spotted in the Lamon Bay.