The photos of rows upon rows of the sea turtles on the deck of a Chinses fishing vessel captured earlier by Philippine maritime patrol authorities near the disputed Hasa-Hasa Shoal (Half Moon Shoal) in the disputed West Philippine Sea shocked the world. Most of the more than 500 sea turtles were dead though some survived and were returned to the sea. We now voice our concern about these protected green and hawksbill sea turtles that were illegally harvested without regard to the species' survival or international laws.

Protect the sea turtles. (2014, May 23). Panay News, p. 10.