Numerous “baklad” or huge stationary fish traps sunk into the bottom of Tayabas Bay in Quezon province pose deadly threats to sea turtles, locally known as “pawikan,” according to an environmentalist group. “The presence of baklads at the bottom of the bay is a very serious threat to the survival of the marine turtles,” Jay Lim, project officer of Tanggol Kalikasan, a public interest law office that advocates environmental protection, disclosed in an interview on Friday. According to Lim, fishermen should not do anything to harm the turtles since they are the ally of small fishermen, explaining that the presence of the marine reptile species in a fishing area indicates a balanced marine ecosystem and abundant supply of fish.

Mallari, D. T. Jr. (2022, February 19). Fish traps pose deadly threat to baby turtles in Tayabas Bay. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A10.