After returning to Tam Quan fishing port on 10/7, fisherman Dinh, 38, from Hoai Nhon Bac ward, recounted rescuing a green sea turtle during his first tuna fishing trip.

"I was very happy to save the sea turtle and believe this good deed will bring luck and success to my upcoming sea voyages," Dinh said.

Green sea turtles are one of five endangered sea turtle species in Vietnam, classified as "endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which prohibits international trade and transport.

According to the Gia Lai Province Fisheries Sub-Department, efforts to protect endangered aquatic species, especially sea turtles, have been intensified for many years. Since 2016, fishermen across the province have rescued and released 46 sea turtles (including 24 hawksbill, 14 green, and 8 olive ridley turtles). They have also successfully protected 13 sea turtle nests, helping 663 hatchlings return to the ocean.

In the first seven months of this year, fishermen in areas like Quy Nhon Dong ward, Nhon Chau island commune, Cat Tien commune, De Gi commune, Hoai Nhon ward, and Hoai Nhon Bac ward have rescued 13 sea turtles (two hawksbill, five green, and six olive ridley).

The provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment has commended five exemplary fishermen for their contributions to sea turtle conservation.

Ai Trinh