Turtles: A Boost to the Ecosystem

Group 3

Atreja Rei B. Alvarez

John Vincent A. Ambito

Ralph Lorenz N. Deiparine

Fiona Criscelle C. Federico

Dane Juriel G. Malate

Laira A. Manankil

James Hubert T. Manarin

Megan Mary F. Mateo

John Harold B. Reyes

Emily Joie T. Santiago

HUMAN RIGHTS

1A/1E

Comm. Rene V. Sarmiento

2
 3

Table of Contents
I. Ecosystem ......................................................................................1
Biodiversity: .....................................................................................1
Issues | Threats .................................................................................3
• Efforts to protect the Ecosystem (International) .......................................3
• Efforts to Protect the Ecosystem (Philippines) ..........................................4
II 6
Turtles ...............................................................................................6
A. Information about Turtles ...............................................................6
B. Importance of Turtles .....................................................................12
C. Threats to Turtles ..........................................................................17
III 22
Laws ................................................................................................22
A. Philippines Laws .........................................................................22
B. International Law .......................................................................25
IV 34
Activities and Organizations ....................................................................34
Bibliography .......................................................................................38
 1

I. Ecosystem

The term ecosystem (a contraction of ecological system) is generally

understood as to the entire assemblage of organisms (plant, animal and other
living beings—also referred to as a biotic community or biocoenosis) living
together in a certain space with their environment (or biotope), functioning as a
loose unit. Together, these components and their interactions with and
relationships to each other form a dynamic and complex new whole, functioning
as an "ecological unit", with additional characteristics that can't be found in the
individual components. Nor could any organism live completely on its own
without involving any other species of organism.

There are no conceptual restrictions on how large or small a space or an

area must be to host an ecosystem, nor on the minimum numbers species or
individual organisms to be present. (Ecosystems.ws, n.d.)

Biodiversity:

Biodiversity is the variety of life. It can be studied on many levels. At

the highest level, you can look at all the different species on the entire Earth.
On a much smaller scale, you can study biodiversity within a pond ecosystem or
a neighborhood park. Identifying and understanding the relationships between
all the life on Earth are some of the greatest challenges in science. (Wildlife.org,
n.d.)

Kinds of Biodiversity

▪ Species – member of different species in a certain area

▪ Genetic – variation between individuals of a single species, between

different groups of the same species & different version of same group

▪ Agricultural - is a broad term that includes all components of biological

diversity of relevance to food and agriculture, and all components of
 2

biological diversity that constitute the agricultural ecosystems, also

named agro-ecosystems: the variety and variability of animals, plants
and micro-organisms, at the genetic, species and ecosystem levels,
which are necessary to sustain key functions of the agro-ecosystem, its
structure and processes

Importance of Biodiversity

Biodiversity is extremely important to people and the health of ecosystems.

Why?
• Biodiversity allows us to live healthy and happy lives. It provides us with
an array of foods and materials and it contributes to the economy.
Without a diversity of pollinators, plants, and soils, our supermarkets
would have a lot less produce.
• Most medical discoveries to cure diseases and lengthen life spans were
made because of research into plant and animal biology and genetics.
Every time a species goes extinct or genetic diversity is lost, we will
never know whether research would have given us a new vaccine or
drug.
• Biodiversity is an important part of ecological services that make life
livable on Earth. They include everything from cleaning water
and absorbing chemicals, which wetlands do, to providing oxygen for us
to breathe—one of the many things that plants do for people.

• Biodiversity allows for ecosystems to adjust to disturbances like extreme

fires and floods. If a reptile species goes extinct, a forest with 20 other
reptiles is likely to adapt better than another forest with only one reptile.
• Genetic diversity prevents diseases and helps species adjust to changes
in their environment.

• Simply for the wonder of it all. There are few things as beautiful and
inspiring as the diversity of life that exists on Earth. (National Wildlife
Federation, n.d.)
 3

Issues | Threats

• Habitat loss/ degradation

• Over exploitation (such as overfishing)
• Spread of Non-native Species/ Diseases

• Climate change

• Pollution (National Wildlife Federation, n.d.)

All of these threats have put a serious strain on the diversity of species on
Earth. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),
globally about one third of all known species are threatened with extinction. That
includes 29% of all amphibians, 21% of all mammals and 12% of all birds. If we
do not stop the threats to biodiversity, we could be facing another mass
extinction with dire consequences to the environment and human health and
livelihood. (National Wildlife Federation, n.d.)

• Efforts to protect the Ecosystem (International)

o Convention on Biodiversity

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) convened the Ad

Hoc Working Group of Experts on Biological Diversity in November 1988 to
explore the need for an. international convention on biological diversity. Soon
after, in May 1989, it established the Ad Hoc Working Group of Technical and
Legal Experts to prepare an international legal instrument for the conservation
and sustainable use of biological diversity. The experts were to take into account
"the need to share costs and benefits between developed and developing
countries" as well as "ways and means to support innovation by local people".

The Convention on Biological Diversity was inspired by the world

community's growing commitment to sustainable development. It represents a
dramatic step forward in the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable
use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from
the use of genetic resources. (Convention on Biological Diversity, n.d.)
 4

• Efforts to Protect the Ecosystem (Philippines)

Ecological Society of the Philippines (ESP)

The Society was founded in 1979 under its original name, UESP
(Underwater Ecological Society of the Philippines), it was duly registered with
the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The name was
amended and changed to the Ecological Society of the Philippines (ESP) in
October 1983. It is a non-stock, non-profit, non-governmental organization.

ESP was formed to provide a formal institutional organization that would

cooperate and collaborate with both private and public sectors of Philippine
Society; for the institution, sponsorship, assistance and financing of action
programs, studies, and research pertaining to the conservation, enchantment,
and protection for mankind of nature in all its forms, and thenatural environment,
including fauna, flora, landscape, water, soil, forest, and other natural resources.
(Ecological Society of the Philippines, n.d.)

B+Wiser Program

GOAL

Contribute to improving natural and environmental resource management

and reducing risks from disasters in the Philippines.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
The B+WISER Program aims to:

1) Conserve biodiversity in forest areas; 2) Reduce forest degradation in

targeted priority watersheds; 3) Build capacity to conserve biodiversity,
manage forests, and support low emissions development; and, 4)
Contribute to disaster risk reduction at the subnational level. (USaid.gov,
n.d.)
5
 6

II
Turtles

A. Information about Turtles

Turtles are reptiles, a class of vertebrate animals that has survived for
more than 200 million years, through stable periods and times of extreme
environmental change. Reptiles evolved from amphibians, an even earlier class
of vertebrates that lives on both land and in fresh water. Over time, the reptiles
came to dominate the Earth; on land, in fresh water and the seas, and in the air.
But it was early in the history of reptiles that turtles, members of the order
Chelonia split from the main line of reptilian evolution.

The origin of chelonians is uncertain, but recognizable turtles are known

as far back as the Triassic period, at least 180 million years ago when dinosaurs
were becoming the dominant land animals. Although the Triassic turtles did not
look very much different from some modern ones, closer examination would
have revealed some characteristics absent from turtles living today. For
example, some of the earliest known turtles had teeth rather than sharp edged
jaws. Much later, towards the end of the Cretaceous period over 65 million years
ago, turtles as large as the 3 meter (9 feet 10 inches) Archelonischyros lived in
the shallow sea that covered much of what is now the western United States.

Turtles are reptiles, a class of about 6,000 vertebrate species that have
scaly skin, breathe air and use sunlight to heat their bodies (ectotherms). Like
all reptiles, turtles reproduce through internal fertilization and, like most reptiles,
lay their soft-shelled eggs on land.

One unique feature of the turtle is its shell. This protective skeletal
structure is an armored enclosure for the soft vital internal organs. The upper
part of the shell, called the carapace, is covered with large scale-like structures
 7

known as scutes. The carapace is connected to the underside, called the

plastron, by hard-shelled plates known as lateral bridges.

The large-sized body cavity of turtles, especially sea turtles, contains

bulky intestines needed for digesting vegetation and small sea creatures. The
green sea turtle, which is primarily vegetarian, has a unique feature in its
digestive system. A specialized part of its digestive tube contains bacterial
symbionts which aid in digesting cellulose. Only a few other reptiles are
primarily vegetarian.

The large body cavity also enables the female turtles to produce and hold
a large volume of eggs. Female sea turtles are also capable of storing live
sperm for several years, although fertility decreases over time. This enables the
female to fertilize numerous clutches of eggs without having to mate.

In addition to using their lungs for breathing, turtles have developed

supplemental forma of respiration. Some aquatic turtle species bring water in
through their nasal passages and into their mouths and throat where oxygen is
extracted by the pharynx. This is done through the pharyngeal lining which acts
as a gill. Some turtles take water into their anal opening where two sacs are
filled and emptied with water, causing a slow current which enables oxygen to
be collected. One fresh water turtle in Australia has cloacal gills for respiration.
Turtles are also capable of containing larger concentrations of carbon dioxide in
their blood than most other air-breathing animals, therefore, they are able to use
their oxygen supply very efficiently over a long period of time. Both blood and
muscle tissue can store oxygen in large quantities, helping the turtle to remain
underwater for long periods of time.

Another aspect of the turtle respiration is the need for exterior flexibility.
The hinged plastron allows for some contraction and expansion of the chest
cavity. In the case of sea turtles, breathing becomes more difficult when the
females come ashore.
 8

They drag their bodies from the sea onto the beach to lay their eggs in
the sand. The hundreds of pounds of body weight against the sand makes
breathing more difficult than in the water.

a. Turtles vs. Tortoise

! !

Turtles Tortoise
- r e p t i l e s f r o m t h e o r d e r o f - reptiles from the order of
Testudines Testudines
-A Turtle is a reptile from the -A Tortoise is a reptile from the
Chelonian family and dwells well in Chelonian family and dwells well
the water. on land.
-Africa, America. -Found mostly in Asia and Africa
but some species exist in
Americas too.
-Mostly flat, streamlined shells. -Mostly large dome shaped shells
(with bumps on the top in some
species).
-Generally light-weight shell. - The shells are heavier.
-Webbed feet with long claws. -Feet are short and sturdy with
bent legs.
 9

-Turtle hatchlings stay in their nest -Tortoise hatchlings move from

on their own for 90-120 days. their nest to the mothers burrow
soon after birth.
-20-40 years. The oldest was 86 -80-150 years. The longest living
years. Tortoise is 326 years.

b. Fun facts about Turtles

A group of turtles is called a bale. Historically, turtles have been the

symbols of patience and wisdom. In the Hawaiian the word “honu” means sea
turtles and represents long life.

Turtles have been alive for more than 200 million years. They have been
alive longer than mammals, birds, crocodiles, snakes and lizards.

The earliest turtles had teeth and they could not pull their heads into their
shells, but other than that they were very similar to the turtles that are alive
today.

Some people believe that the turtles’ shell is what has allowed them to
successfully survive for so long.

The shell of a turtle is made up of 60 different bones all connected

together. These bony parts of the shell are covered with plates that make the
shell stronger.

The turtle’s shell also has nerve endings in it. If you touch the shell, a
turtle can feel it. Turtles pull their heads and feet into their shells to protect
 10

themselves. Some Box turtles can eat so much that they no longer will fit into
their shell.

Female turtles mate with several males in the ocean and store the sperm
inside them, so a single nest may hold babies from different fathers. Only one
out of one thousand sea turtles survive after hatching. Baby sea turtles circle
their nest once after hatching before heading toward the ocean.

Once a male sea turtle hatches and enters the ocean, it will probably not
step on land again. A female turtle laying eggs will dig several empty nests to
throw off predators trying to eat the eggs.

Most turtle species have five toes on each limb with a few exceptions
including the American Box Turtle of the Carolina species that only has four
toes, and in some cases, only three. Turtles have good eyesight and an
excellent sense of smell. Hearing and their sense of touch are both good.

c. Different Species of Turtles in the Philippines

1. Sea Turtles

Given that the nation is an

archipelago, with over 22,000
miles of coastline -- the tenth
longest among all countries -- it
is no surprise that five sea
turtle species inhabit the ocean
surrounding the Philippines.
 11

Loggerhead (Carettacaretta) and

green sea turtles (Cheloniamydas)
are both listed as endangered species
by the IUCN redlist, while the even
more imperiled hawksbill
(Eretmochelysimbricatta) and
leatherback sea turtles
(Dermochelyscoriacea) are listed as
critically endangered. Olive ridley
sea turtles (Lepidochelysolivacea) are the most abundant sea turtle species in
the world. Accordingly, they are only designated as vulnerable by the IUCN
redlist.

2. Freshwater Turtles

Contrasting strikingly with the Asian mainland, which holds great

freshwater turtle diversity, the Philippines are home to only six freshwater and
terrestrial turtle species. Malayan softshell turtles (Doganiasubplana) are a
common, leathery-shelled species, but the related Asian giant softshell turtles
(Pelochelyscantorii), which reach up to 6 feet in length, are endangered.
Malayan box turtles (Cuoraamboinensis) are a semi-aquatic species equipped
with a hinge on their plastrons, allowing them to close their shells tightly once
they pull their heads and limbs inside. Spiny hill turtles (Heosemysspinosa)
are a medium-sized, primarily herbivorous species that spend time on the land
and in small creeks, streams and ponds. Scientists have only been able to
examine a handful of the very rare Philippine pond turtles
(Siebenrockiellaleytensis); most details of this critically endangered species’
biology are a mystery. Scientists debate the classification and taxonomy of
Asian leaf turtles (Cyclemysdentata); though considered a single species by
 12

some authorities, others consider the species to form a complex of up to five

different species.

B. Importance of Turtles
Turtles are important as scavengers, herbivores, carnivores and often
contribute significant biomass to the ecosystems. They play an important role in
ocean ecosystems by maintaining healthy seagrass beds and coral reefs,
providing key habitat for other marine life, helping to balance marine food webs
and facilitating nutrient cycling from water to land.

Green Turtles and Sea Grass Beds

Green turtles feed on seagrasses and

seaweeds that grow on the ocean floor.
These seagrasses are home to other
marine life such as seahorses and also
serve as breeding ground for fishes.
However, they must be kept short to
remain healthy and this is where the
turtles come in.

When green sea turtles graze, they increase the productivity and nutrient
content of seagrass blades. Without constant grazing, seagrass beds become
overgrown and obstruct currents, shade the bottom, begin to decompose and
provide suitable habitat for the growth of slime molds. Older portions of
seagrass beds tend to be overgrown with microorganisms, algae, invertebrates
and fungi.

Sea turtles forage on seagrass just a few centimeters from the bottom of
the blades, allowing older, upper portions of the blades to float away. As the
 13

turtles crop and re-crop the same plot, seagrass blades are removed from the
area rather than accumulating on the bottom. This results in a 15-fold decrease
in the supply of nitrogen to seagrass roots, which impacts plant species, nutrient
cycling, animal densities and predator-prey relations.

If turtles were to ever go extinct, seagrasses would eventually die off and
this would in turn affect the marine life and eventually human life as well.

Leatherback Turtles and Jellyfish

Leatherback turtles, which forage in the

open ocean throughout their life, are the top
predators of oceanic jellyfish. These jellyfish, in
turn, eat larval fish. As the numbers of
leatherbacks in the ocean decrease, jellyfish
numbers may increase locally and eat more
larval fish, leaving fewer fish to grow into adults. A wide variety of marine
ecosystems dependent on these fish, and indeed commercial fisheries, may end
up suffering from this cascading effect.

Hawksbill and Coral Reefs

Hawksbill turtles may maintain the

health of coral reef systems by grazing
on sponges, which if left to grow
unchecked, outgrow the corals, cover
them up and kill the reef. By removing
sponges from reefs, hawksbills allow
other species, such as coral, to colonize
and grow. Because of this, researchers
believe that declining numbers of hawksbill turtles may be a factor in the inability
of reefs to resist increasing pressures from pollution, algal overgrowth,
overfishing and climate change.
 14

Loggerheads and Ocean Floor Ecosystems

Loggerheads are equipped with powerful

jaws to feed on hard-shelled prey, such as
crustaceans. This allows them to reduce the
shells of their prey into fragments that are either
discarded on site or further away in the form of
feces. By breaking up the shells while foraging,
loggerheads increase the rate at which the shells disintegrate and increase the
rate of nutrient recycling in benthic or ocean bottom ecosystems.

Loggerheads also find prey by clearing away sand to expose their next
meal. As they glide along the sea floor in search of food, loggerheads create
trails in the sediment. This foraging behavior is important for both loggerheads
and the habitat. The loggerheads trails affect the compaction, aeration and
nutrient distribution of the sediment, as well as the species diversity and
dynamics of the benthic ecosystem. When foraging, loggerheads naturally alter
the ocean bottom and benefit the underwater community.

Beaches and Beach Dunes

Beaches have a very fragile ecosystem in that they don’t get many
sources of nutrients hence there is very little vegetation. Sea turtles help support
this ecosystem when they nest. Reason being, of the tens of thousands of eggs
that are deposited by the turtles, not all will hatch. Those that do not hatch will
decay and nourish the beaches. With declining turtle population, fewer eggs are
deposited and this would result in lesser vegetation and this would cause beach
erosion.

Marine turtles return to inshore areas

for the nesting season and lay
hundreds of eggs each season. In
doing so, they provide a source of
 15

nutrients that plays a vital role in coastal dune ecosystems. Limited nutrients in
dune ecosystems, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, are partially
provided to the ecosystem by unhatched sea turtle eggs. These vital nutrients
allow for the continued growth of vegetation and subsequent stabilization of
beach dunes.

The eggs and hatchlings provide food for many predators, and the empty
shells and eggs that don't hatch provide nutrients that can be recycled by
invertebrates and micro-organisms. In turn, these nutrients are used by plants,
which help stabilise dune structure. In this way, turtles transport nutrients from
productive far-away feeding grounds to nutrient-poor coastal ecosystems, and
play a vital part in their stability.

Sea Turtles Provide Food for Fish

By carrying around barnacles, algae and other similar organisms known

as epibionts, sea turtles provide a food source for fish and shrimp. Other
organisms, such as sheepshead bream, 40 wrasse, 41 angelfish, and barber
pole shrimp, establish “cleaning stations” for sea turtles to visit. With
outstretched limbs and a raised head, sea turtles expose their bodies, offering a
meal to eager fish and shrimp. This behavior not only feeds smaller organisms,
but also benefits sea turtles by reducing drag and keeping their skin and shells
clean.44 Schools of fish can be seen cleaning sea turtles while they sleep or
even following aggregations of sea turtles in transit.45 some species obtain their
diet strictly from epibionts found on sea turtles. Without this food source, certain
species of fish and shrimp might be forced to develop other, less successful
methods for obtaining food.

All sea turtle species are also prey, providing food for other animals, both
on shore and at sea. Like many marine organisms, sea turtles are most
vulnerable to predation as eggs, hatchlings and juveniles. Terrestrial animals
such as ants, crabs, rats, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, feral cats, dogs, mongoose
and vultures are known to dig up unhatched nests. As hatchlings emerge from
 16

the nest, they provide another feeding opportunity for natural predators, which
includes a variety of seabirds. While most seabirds are daytime predators,
species such as the night heron actually listen for hatchlings emerging from
nests. If the hatchlings make it to the water, they face continued predation from
seabirds with an aerial view of the tiny turtles as they float near the surface.
Reef fish, such as grouper and jacks, are also common predators of both
hatchlings and juvenile sea turtles. Clearly, hatchlings provide a significant
source of protein for near shore predatory fish.

Sea Turtles Provide Habitat

Many marine organisms rely on sea turtles as a place to call home.

These small creatures called “epibionts” attach themselves to solid surfaces in
the ocean such as floating debris and sea turtle shells.

Compared to floating debris, sea turtles provide increased survival rates,

enhanced foraging and wider dispersal for attached epibionts. For example,
Columbus crabs found on loggerheads tend to be larger in size and have higher
proportions of female crabs with brooding eggs than those attached to debris.
Furthermore, Columbus crabs found on loggerheads are more successful
foragers with a diverse diet, while crabs found on debris mainly consume algae.
Columbus crabs feed on other epibionts found on loggerhead shells, particles
from the loggerhead’s captured prey and the shedding skin and feces of
loggerheads. Sea turtles clearly provide numerous benefits to the epibionts they
host. Sea turtles also help to structure their marine habitats through the
dispersal of epibionts. Organisms such as plants and crustaceans are
transported to and from reefs, seagrass beds and the open ocean.

In the open ocean, miles from shore, sea turtles offer an oasis to fish and
seabirds. Similar to floating debris, sea turtles can be used as a place to rest, a
foraging ground and even a safe haven from potential predators. Of all the sea
 17

turtle species, olive ridleys are most frequently associated with seabirds,
particularly in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. As they surface to bask in the sun,
olive ridleys expose the center of their shell and create a platform for seabirds to
perch. Some seabirds take advantage of this opportunity to roost if their feathers
are not extremely water-resistant. By perching on sea turtles, seabirds that
would otherwise be vulnerable to attack, find refuge from sharks. Small baitfish
also use sea turtles for protection, by forming tight schools beneath the turtle’s
body. These schools of fish then provide a food source for resting seabirds.
Some seabirds occasionally feed on epibionts inhabiting the sea turtle’s shell.
By offering a location to roost, feast and hide, sea turtles represent an important
resource for birds and fish at sea.

Conclusion

Sea turtles clearly play important roles in marine ecosystems. Each sea
turtle species uniquely affects the diversity, habitat and functionality of its
environment. Whether by grazing on seagrass, controlling sponge distribution,
feasting on jellyfish, transporting nutrients or supporting other marine life, sea
turtles play vital roles in maintaining the health of the oceans.

C. Threats to Turtles

Worldwide, out of the seven sea turtle species, a majority is endangered.

The ICN Red List of Threatened Species classified the world’s seven sea turtle
species as follows:

Specie Status
Leatherback Vulnerable
Green Endangered
Loggerhead Endangered
Hawksbill Critically Endangered
Olive Ridley Vulnerable
 18

Kemp's Ridley Critically Endangered

Flatback Data Deficient

The threats that turtles face include bycatch, illegal trade and direct
consumption, marine debris, ocean pollution, habitat loss, and climate change.

By catch

Wherever there is fishing, there is bycatch — the incidental capture of

non-target species such as dolphins, marine turtles and seabirds.
Approximately 40% of all animals caught in fisheries are discarded as trash.
Marine mammals, sea turtles, seabirds, and other species are caught and
discarded, usually dead. For those animals that are caught and released injured
but still alive, their fate after being released is unknown.

Trawls, longlines, driftnets, gillnets, pots, and traps are all responsible for
the death of marine creatures by incidental capture or entanglement. Longlines,
containing thousands of baited hooks on lines that can be tens of miles long,
hook and entangle many animals and fish that aren't intended to be caught.
Sea turtles, particularly greens, loggerheads, olive ridley’s, and leatherbacks,
and seabirds like albatross, are attracted to the bait and get caught on the
hooks or become entangled in the lines and drown. Trawls are also particularly
destructive and are estimated to catch 20 pounds of bycatch for every pound of
target species. Turtle Excluder Devices have reduced sea turtle mortality in trawl
fisheries but are not regulated worldwide.

Recently in the Philippines, an injured Pawikan believed to be an Olive

Ridley was found with injuries along the shore of Barangay Bucana, Davao City
last March 6, 2016. According to Barangay Captain Rolando Trahera, the
Pawikan was said to be trapped in the fishnet of the local fisher folks and its
 19

flipper was wounded in the process of setting it free. They immediately brought
the Pawikan to the Cleanergy Park. Based on the result of the physical
examination, the Pawikan needs to be temporarily kept in the Cleanergy Park
until its flipper self-heals with proper medication as prescribed by the
veterinarian, and food intake. Once the Pawikan fully recuperates, it will be
released to the sea where it belongs.

Illegal Trade and Direct Consumption

Sea turtles continue to be harvested unsustainably both for human

consumption and trade of their parts. Turtle meat and eggs are a source of food
and income for many people around the world. Their shells and skins are also
used to make a variety of objects like jewelry, sunglasses, tourist trinkets,
instruments, and wall hangings. Some also kill turtles for medicine and religious
ceremonies. Tens of thousands of sea turtles are lost this way every year,
devastating populations of already endangered greens and hawksbills.

Killing of turtles for both domestic and international markets continues as

well. While international trade in all sea turtle species and their parts is
prohibited under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), illegal trafficking persists.

Illegal trafficking is also present here in the Philippines. On May 27, 2015,
a bid to smuggle fourteen pawikan (sea turtles) worth some P450,000 was foiled
when the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy intercepted the shipment
in Palawan. Initial information showed the pawikan were "stuffed with formalin
for preservation," and placed in rice sacks and abandoned along the shoreline
of Green Island. The turtles were turned over to Palawan Council for
Sustainable Development for proper disposition.

Marine Debris
 20

Marine debris is manmade waste that is directly or indirectly disposed of

in oceans, rivers, and other waterways. It is a continuing problem for sea
turtles. Sea turtles living in the pelagic (open ocean) environment commonly
ingest or become entangled in marine debris (e.g., tar balls, plastic bags, plastic
pellets, balloons, and ghost fishing gear) as they feed along oceanographic
fronts, where debris and their natural food items converge.

Ocean Pollution

Sea turtles are vulnerable to ocean pollution at all stages of life, from
eggs to hatchlings to juveniles to adults. Pollutants include things like toxic
metals, petroleum products, and agricultural and industrial runoff of
contaminants such as fertilizers, chemicals, nutrients, and untreated waste.
Pollutants may cause immediate harm to sea turtles through direct contact or
can build up in tissues over time and lead to immunosuppression resulting in
disease and death.

Degradation of sea turtle habitat from pollution also poses a threat and
can occur over large areas. Sea turtle habitat overlaps with areas most likely to
be affected by offshore oil exploration and production. Petroleum pollution
occurs from intentional discharge from vessels, vessel groundings, offshore oil
exploration and production, transport of oil products, spills, and runoff of oil from
land based sources.

Oil from spills far offshore concentrate along convergence zones (where
currents meet) which is are important areas for young turtle development. Oil
from spills offshore also washes up on beaches where it degrades nesting
habitat, and can impact nests, nesting females, and hatchlings making their way
to the water.

Sea turtles are also affected by ingesting food contaminated by oil or tar
balls. Tar balls form when crude oil floating in the water degrades. A large
 21

percentage of dead hatchlings whose stomach contents have been examined

have ingested tar balls.

Habitat Loss

Sea turtles are dependent on beaches for nesting. Uncontrolled coastal

development, vehicle traffic on beaches and other human activities have directly
destroyed or disturbed sea turtle nesting beaches around the world. Turtle
feeding grounds such as coral reefs and sea grass beds are damaged and
destroyed by activities onshore, including sedimentation from clearing of land
and nutrient run-off from agriculture. Seawall construction creates impenetrable
barriers to nesting females and causes unnatural erosion of beaches. Boats
and personal watercraft are responsible for large numbers of sea turtle injuries
and deaths. As coastal populations increase, boating activities increase and
collisions with sea turtles that must surface to breathe are inevitable.

In the Philippines, it was reported on March 20, 2016 that a dead

pawikan or sea turtle was found dead at the shorelines of Tayasan, Negros
Oriental, by a bantaydagat who is assigned to monitor the seashore of the
municipality. At the shoreline, it was found out that the dead female turtle has
wounds in her left front flippers, possibly hit by a pumpboat. It measured 33.5
inches long, and 21 inches in width weighing 15 kilograms more or less. After
gathering all the data, the dead turtle was buried near the shoreline in
PoblacionTayasan.

Climate Change

Sea level rise from the melting of polar ice is already contributing to the
loss of beach and sea turtle nesting habitat. Weather extremes, also linked to
 22

climate change, mean more frequent and severe storms which alter nesting
beaches, cause beach erosion, and inundate, or flood sea turtle nests.

Unusually warm temperatures caused by climate change are disrupting

the normal ratios, resulting in fewer male hatchlings.

Sea turtles use ocean currents to travel and find prey. Warming ocean
temperatures influence migratory species by altering currents and impacting the
distribution and abundance of prey species. This can result in southerly species
being found in more northerly regions, well outside of their normal range.
Warmer water temperatures also affect coral reefs through coral bleaching
which are vital to the survival of species like the hawksbill.

III
Laws

A. Philippines Laws

a. Executive Order 542: Creating The Task Force Pawikan And

Appropriating Funds Therefor

Enforced on June 26, 1979 by late Ferdinand E. Marcos, Executive Order

542 was created in order to ensure the survival and development of certain
marine species (i.e. marine turtles) that were in a verge of total depletion.
Collective efforts of various concerned agencies were not able to overcome the
overexploitation. In order to reach the balance between sustaining marine turtles
and maintaining the livelihood of Filipinos (i.e. Muslims and seafaring tribes),
Task Force Pawikan was created.
 23

Task Force Pawikan was created in order to:

1. Enforce and regulate rules in relation to marine turtles

2. Conduct field investigations relevant to formulation of updated policies for

the economic usage of the species

3. Promote responsiveness and awareness in order to conserve marine

turtles

4. Form socioeconomic surveys as a basis for formulation of professions

wherein these people can help with the pressure of depletion of these
marine turtles

5. Coordinate with international agencies that works to preserve these

species

6. Manage marine turtle sanctuaries for the absolute protection of the

species

The Task Force Pawikan and its council had been funded for P2,000,000
in order to achieve and sustain its objectives. Its council was composed of the
following representatives: Ministry of Natural Resources, National Economic and
Development Authority, Office of the Regional Coordinator, Southwestern
Mindanao Region, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Trade, Ministry of
Cultural Minorities, Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, Ministry of
Agriculture, Ministry of Public Information, National Media Production Center,
University of the Philippines, Philippine Council for Agriculture Resources
Research & Development, Ministry of Human Settlements, and Forest Research
Institute. Moreover, in this law, six years from its approval date the Council
 24

would turn over the project (including its activities and resources) to the
government agency they had deemed appropriate.

b. REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9147

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF

WILDLIFE RESOURCES AND THEIR HABITATS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

It shall be the policy of the State to conserve the country's wildlife

resources and their habitats for sustainability. In the pursuit of this policy, this Act
shall have the following objectives:

(a) To conserve and protect wildlife species and their habitats to promote
ecological balance and enhance biological diversity;

(b) To regulate the collection and trade of wildlife;

(c) To pursue, with due regard to the national interest, the Philippine
commitment to international conventions, protection of wildlife and their
habitats; and

(d) To initiate or support scientific studies on the conservation of

biological diversity.

This Act shall also apply to exotic species which are subject to trade, are
cultured, maintained and/or bred in captivity or propagated in the country.

There is no specific law that covers the protection of all marine wildlife.
RA 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act cover the
protection of all the wildlife resources of our country, especially the threatened
and exotic species. RA 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code mandates the
protection of threatened and rare species

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall

have jurisdiction over all terrestrial plant and animal species, all turtles and
 25

tortoises and wetland species, including but not limited to crocodiles, waterbirds
and all amphibians and dugong. The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall have
jurisdiction over all declared aquatic critical habitats, all aquatic resources
including but not limited to all fishes, aquatic plants, invertebrates and all marine
mammals, except dugong. The secretaries of the DENR and the DA shall
review, and by joint administrative order, revise and regularly update the list of
species under their respective jurisdiction.

c. RA 8550

Protection of Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species.

The Department shall declare closed seasons and take conservation and
rehabilitation measures for rare, threatened and endangered species, as it may
determine, and shall ban the fishing and/or taking of rare, threatened and/or
endangered species, including their eggs/offspring as identified by existing laws
in concurrence with concerned government agencies.

Fishing or Taking of Rare, Threatened or Endangered Species.

It shall be unlawful to fish or take rare, threatened or endangered species

as listed in the CITES and as determined by the Department.

B. International Law

International Laws on Protection of Sea Turtles

There are international laws and agreements that protect endangered

wildlife, including sea turtles. Primarily, the foremost treaty that ensures
 26

protection of endangered species is the Convention on International Trade in

Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

CITES

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of

Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its
aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants
does not threaten their survival.

Widespread information nowadays about the endangered status of many

prominent species, such as the tiger and elephants, might make the need for
such a convention seem obvious. But at the time when the ideas for CITES
were first formed, in the 1960s, international discussion of the regulation of
wildlife trade for conservation purposes was something relatively new. With
hindsight, the need for CITES is clear. Annually, international wildlife trade is
estimated to be worth billions of dollars and to include hundreds of millions of
plant and animal specimens. The trade is diverse, ranging from live animals and
plants to a vast array of wildlife products derived from them, including food
products, exotic leather goods, wooden musical instruments, timber, tourist
curios and medicines. Levels of exploitation of some animal and plant species
are high and the trade in them, together with other factors, such as habitat loss,
is capable of heavily depleting their populations and even bringing some
species close to extinction. Many wildlife species in trade are not endangered,
but the existence of an agreement to ensure the sustainability of the trade is
important in order to safeguard these resources for the future.

Because the trade in wild animals and plants crosses borders between
countries, the effort to regulate it requires international cooperation to safeguard
certain species from over-exploitation. CITES was conceived in the spirit of such
cooperation. Today, it accords varying degrees of protection to more than
35,000 species of animals and plants, whether they are traded as live
specimens, fur coats or dried herbs.
 27

CITES was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting

of members of IUCN (The World Conservation Union). The text of the
Convention was finally agreed at a meeting of representatives of 80 countries in
Washington, D.C., the United States of America, on 3 March 1973, and on 1
July 1975 CITES entered in force. The original of the Convention was deposited
with the Depositary Government in the Chinese, English, French, Russian and
Spanish languages, each version being equally authentic.

CITES is an international agreement to which States (countries) adhere

voluntarily. States that have agreed to be bound by the Convention ('joined'
CITES) are known as Parties. Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties –
in other words they have to implement the Convention – it does not take the
place of national laws. Rather it provides a framework to be respected by each
Party, which has to adopt its own domestic legislation to ensure that CITES is
implemented at the national level.

For many years CITES has been among the conservation agreements with
the largest membership, with now 181 Parties.
 28

CMS

As an environmental treaty under the aegis of the United Nations

Environment Program, CMS provides a global platform for the conservation and
sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats. CMS brings together
the States through which migratory animals pass, the Range States, and lays
the legal foundation for internationally coordinated conservation measures
throughout a migratory range.

As the only global convention specializing in the conservation of migratory

species, their habitats and migration routes, CMS complements and co-
operates with a number of other international organizations, NGOs and partners
in the media as well as in the corporate sector.

Migratory species threatened with extinction are listed on Appendix I of the

Convention. CMS Parties strive towards strictly protecting these animals,
conserving or restoring the places where they live, mitigating obstacles to
migration and controlling other factors that might endanger them. Besides
establishing obligations for each State joining the Convention, CMS promotes
concerted action among the Range States of many of these species.

Migratory species that need or would significantly benefit from international

co-operation are listed in Appendix II of the Convention. For this reason, the
Convention encourages the Range States to conclude global or regional
agreements.

In this respect, CMS acts as a framework Convention. The agreements may

range from legally binding treaties (called Agreements) to less formal
instruments, such as Memoranda of Understanding, and can be adapted to the
requirements of particular regions. The development of models tailored
according to the conservation needs throughout the migratory range is a unique
capacity to CMS.
 29

UDAW

The Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW) is a proposed inter-

governmental agreement to recognise that animals are sentient, to prevent
cruelty and reduce suffering, and to promote standards on the welfare of
animals such as farm animals, companion animals, animals in scientific
research, draught animals, wildlife and animals in recreation.

It is proposed that a UDAW be adopted by the United Nations. If endorsed

by the UN (as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was) the UDAW would
be a non-binding set of principles that acknowledges the importance of the
sentience of animals and human responsibilities towards them. The principles
were designed to encourage and enable national governments to introduce and
improve animal protection legislation and initiatives.

It has been argued that a UDAW is consistent with, and could help secure
the achievement of, the UN Millennium Development Goals. and the
subsequent sustainable development goals . The declaration as of October
2014 has the support, in principle, of 46 countries and of ministries from 17
further countries. More than 2.5 million people from a wide variety of UN
Member States have supported the public campaign.

Universal Declaration of on Animal Welfare

PREAMBLE

[1] AFFIRMING that animals are sentient beings and that their welfare is an
issue worthy of consideration and respect by Member States;
 30

[2] CONSCIOUS that humans share this planet with other species and other
forms of life and that all forms of life co-exist within an interdependent
ecosystem;

[3] EMPHASIZING that animal welfare should be guided by the best available
science & ethical values;

[4] RECALLING that the “five freedoms (freedom from hunger, thirst and
malnutrition; freedom from fear and distress; freedom from physical and thermal
discomfort; freedom from pain, injury and disease; and freedom to express
normal patterns of behaviour)” provide valuable general guidance for animal
welfare;

[5] CONVINCED that good practices in animal welfare can have major benefits
for humans and the environment, and that inclusion of animal welfare in policy
discussions can strengthen efforts by governments and the United Nations on a
range of issues including human and animal health, food security, poverty &
hunger reduction, disaster risk reduction & relief, environmental sustainability
and social development;

[6] WELCOMING the FAO’s integration of animal welfare into its poverty
alleviation, disaster relief and livestock development programmes, as outlined in
the FAO Expert Meeting Report “Capacity building to implement good animal
welfare practices” (2008);

[7] RECOGNIZING that many Member States already have a system of legal
protection for animals, both domestic and wild, and that it is important to ensure
the continued effectiveness of these systems and the development of better and
more comprehensive animal welfare provisions;

[8] CONSIDERING that the promotion of animal welfare requires collective

action and that all stakeholders and affected parties must be involved;

[9] ACKNOWLEDGING that the provisions contained in this declaration do not

affect the rights of any Member State;
 31

[10] NOTING Resolution XIV adopted on 24 May 2007 by the International

Committee of the OIE (recognized as an international animal welfare standard-
setting body) expressing support in principle for the development of a UDAW.

Proclaims the following Universal declaration as a means of improving

the welfare of animals:

1 The clauses in the Preamble section are numbered for ease of reference
for discussion purposes only.

Article I:

Animals are sentient beings and their welfare should be respected.

Article II:

For the purposes of this Declaration, animal welfare includes animal health
and encompasses both the physical and psychological state of the animal. The
welfare of an animal can be described as good or high if the individual is fit,
healthy, free from suffering and in a positive state of wellbeing.

Article III:

Sentience shall be understood to mean the capacity to have feelings,

including pain and pleasure, and implies a level of conscious awareness.
Scientific research confirms that all vertebrates are sentient animals, and
indicates sentience in some invertebrates. This is an active research area and
knowledge of sentience of different species continues to grow.

Article IV:

All appropriate steps shall be taken by Member States to prevent cruelty to

animals and to reduce their suffering. This Declaration provides a basis for
states and peoples to:

- work to improve their national animal welfare legislation

 32

- introduce animal welfare legislation in countries where it does not currently

exist

- encourage those businesses which use animals to keep welfare at the

forefront of their policies

- link humanitarian, development and animal welfare agendas nationally and

internationally

- inspire positive change in public attitudes towards animal welfare.

Article V:

Appropriate policies, legislation and standards on the welfare of animals

shall be further developed and elaborated on the basis of this Declaration
including, but not limited to, those governing the treatment and management of
wild and companion animals, animals used in farming, scientific research or for
draught and recreational purposes and those kept in captivity.

Article VI:

The policies, legislation and standards attained by each state on animal

welfare shall be observed, recognized and promoted by improved practices and
capacity-building, nationally and internationally. Whilst there are significant
social, economic and cultural differences between societies, each should care
for and treat animals in a humane and sustainable manner in accordance with
the principles of the Declaration.

Article VII:

Member States are called upon to adopt all necessary measures to give
effect to these agreed principles.
33
 34

IV
Activities and Organizations

1. Pawikan Conservation Center

The Pawikan Conservation

Center is a protected area in
Nagbalayong, Morong, Bataan
where pawikans (marine turtles)
are able to lay their eggs away
from threats of poaching, egg
gathering, slaughter, illegal
fishing, and pollution.

The Center began in 1999 as a community-based program initiated by a

local organization called BantayPawikan, Inc. to save the pawikan from
extinction. The center's volunteers consist mostly of former poachers and egg
collectors who have turned to pawikan conservation advocacy. With the help of
the United Nations Development Program's Global Environment Facility Small
Grants Program and the provincial chapter of the Philippine Rural
Reconstruction Movement, more communities and neighboring towns adopted
the conservation effort.

Between September and January, pawikans return to the coasts of Bagac

and Morong, known nesting grounds of three out of five species of pawikans in
the country. The volunteers collect and transfer the eggs to a hatchery for
incubation. During the nesting season, many visitors gather at the Center to
watch the pawikans come ashore in the evening and lay their eggs.
 35

- Adopt a Turtle

The Center also offers visitors a chance to interact with the pawikans
personally, albeit for a short period of time, with its “Adopt-a-turtle” program. For
a fee of P200, a visitor can hold and release a newly hatched turtle into the sea.
The baby pawikans are released either early in the morning or late in the
afternoon in order to spare them from stress due to the sun's heat. A t-shirt is
also given as proof of participation in the program.

2. Pawicare for Pawikan

As part of SM Olongapo’s community service through the SM Cares

program, Sea Turtle hatchlings are released Zambalesevery year. Last March
22, 2015, SM was joined by the ‘Katimpuyog’ organization chaired by LaRainne
A. Sarmiento with the support from former Comelec Commissioner Atty. Rene
Sarmiento, parochial priest Rev. Fr. Roque Villanueva, Municipal Councilors,
Barangay Officials and Pawikan Rangers.
 36

According to Katimpuyog Chair Sarmiento, eggs in the past were hunted to

be sold in the public market. But now with the presence of volunteers,
“poaching” has ended. These volunteer fisher folks a.k.a. “La Paz Rangers”
organized the town-based PawiCare, a pawikan (sea turtle) protection and
conservation program that involve a thorough sea turtle watch by the rangers.

Pawikan is on the list of the Convention on International Trade in

Endangered Species(CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora, having become
endangered because of poaching, slaughter, blast fishing, illegal trade and
pollution.

The Pawicare program aims to help conserve and protect the marine
species and thereby help maintain the ecological balance in the fishing grounds.

V.
Recommendations

As law students, what are some of many things we can do to help?

 37

As law students, what are some of the ways we can contribute to the
protection of not only the Turtles, but the whole environment per se?

1. We can be effective channels of information dissemination regarding the

current advocacies with the goal of protecting the environment.

2. Lobby for the strengthening of the implementation of the Laws

concerning the protection, preservation, and rehabilitation of the
environment; and for heavier sanctions or penalties to those who shall
violate such laws, for the further betterment of the environment and
upholding of maximum sustainability of our country.

3. As future lawyers, we can raise awareness to the populace regarding our

right as human beings to the environment, and as to how all of us must
contribute in the preservation and rehabilitation of the environment, so as
to the betterment of the lives of other creatures like us in this world.
 38

Bibliography

Biological, Cultural and Economic Significance. (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2016,
from http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/
marine_turtles/asian_marine_turtles/background/

Bycatch.(n.d.). Retrieved April 02, 2016, from http://www.worldwildlife.org/

threats/bycatch

CMS. (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2016, from http://www.cms.int/en/

legalinstrument/cms

Coastal Development.(n.d.). Retrieved April 02, 2016, from http://

www.seeturtles.org/coastal-development

Dead pawikan smuggled into Palawan intercepted by authorities. (2015, May

28). Retrieved April 02, 2016, from http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/
story/494398/scitech/science/dead-pawikan-smuggled-into-palawan-
intercepted-by-authorities

Endangered species found dead here - NegrosChronicle.com. (2016, March

20). Retrieved April 02, 2016, from http://www.negroschronicle.com/web-
archives/top-of-the-week/Endangered species found dead here.html

Fisheries Bycatch.(n.d.). Retrieved April 02, 2016, from http://

www.seeturtles.org/fisheries-bycatch

Fun Turtle Facts for Kids - Interesting Information about Turtles. (n.d.). Retrieved
April 02, 2016, from http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/animals/
turtle.html

Global Warming & Sea Turtles.(n.d.). Retrieved April 02, 2016, from http://
www.seeturtles.org/global-warming

Illegal Poaching.(n.d.). Retrieved April 02, 2016, from http://www.seeturtles.org/

illegal-poaching
 39

Infographic: Sea Turtles. (n.d.). Retrieved April 02, 2016, from http://
www.worldwildlife.org/pages/infographic-sea-turtles

Injured 'Pawikan' now recuperating at the Cleanergy Park of Davao Light -

Northbound Philippines News Online. (2016, March 26). Retrieved April
02, 2016, from http://northboundasia.com/2016/03/26/injured-pawikan-
now-recuperating-cleanergy-park-davao-light/

Ocean Plastic.(n.d.). Retrieved April 02, 2016, from http://www.seeturtles.org/

ocean-plastic

Ocean Pollution.(n.d.). Retrieved April 02, 2016, from http://www.seeturtles.org/

ocean-pollution

'PAWIKAN' hatchlings released in Zambales « Subic Bay News. (n.d.).

Retrieved April 04, 2016, from http://subicbaynews.net/?p=11362

Reptiles | Turtle & Tortoise. (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2016, from http://
animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/turtle-tortoise

Sea Turtle Threats.(n.d.). Retrieved April 02, 2016, from http://

www.seeturtles.org/sea-turtles-threats/

Sea Turtle.(n.d.). Retrieved April 02, 2016, from http://www.worldwildlife.org/

species/sea-turtle#threats

The Oceanic Resource Foundation: Underwater Photography / Marine

Conservation. (n.d.). Retrieved April 02, 2016, from http://www.orf.org/
turtles.htm

Thousands join Pawikan Festival 2015. (n.d.). Retrieved April 04, 2016, from
http://www.morong.gov.ph/

Threats to Sea Turtles.(n.d.). Retrieved April 02, 2016, from http://

www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/threats.htm
 40

Turtle Facts | KidsKonnect. (2013). Retrieved April 02, 2016, from https://
kidskonnect.com/animals/turtle/

Universal declaration of animal welfare (UDAW) - GlobalAnimalLaw.org. (n.d.).

Retrieved April 04, 2016, from https://www.globalanimallaw.org/database/
universal.html

Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare. (n.d.). Retrieved April 04, 2016, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Declaration_on_Animal_Welfare

What happens to the environment if turtles became extinct? (n.d.). Retrieved

April 03, 2016, from http://www.turtleconservationsociety.org.my/what-
happens-to-the-environment-if-turtles-became-extinct/

What is CITES? (n.d.). Retrieved April 04, 2016, from https://cites.org/eng/disc/

what.php

Wilson, E. G., Miller, K. L., Allison, D., & Magliocca, M. (n.d.). Why Healthy
Oceans Need Sea Turtles: The Importance of Sea Turtles to Marine
Ecosystems.