Pele scores another rescue

Benaulim fisherman Pele (L) poses with the sea turtle after its rescue.

Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar

MARGAO
Benaulim-based fisherman Pele Fernandes achieved a personal milestone on Monday morning by rescuing his 23rd sea turtle.

While on a morning walk along Benaulim-Varca beach stretch with his fisherman friend, Pele spotted a sea turtle struggling in the waters after it got entangled in an abandoned fishing net. Pele and his friend ventured into the shallow waters and brought the sea turtle on shore. They rescued the turtle from the fishing net and after confirming there were no injuries, released the turtle back into the sea.

“This marks the 23rd time in my fishing career that I've rescued a sea turtle. We fishermen along the Benaulim-Varca coast have a tradition of rescuing turtles and returning them to the sea," Pele told the media.

Although the Salcete coastal belt isn't typically known as a habitat for sea turtles like Morjim or Agonda, forest officials from the marine range recently discovered turtles laying eggs on the renowned Colva beach. Last week, these officials conducted an awareness session for local fishermen, emphasising that disturbing turtle eggs constitutes an offence, with the offenders subject to prosecution.