A sea turtle of the world's largest species is freed from an illegal fishing net in Manilva

The Civil Guard has freed a turtle of a protected species that was trapped in an illegal fishing net. The incident took place on the morning of this past Tuesday, January 13, when the armed force received a report that a turtle was caught in a net about 25 meters from the beach of La Colonia in Manilva.

A patrol boat from the Maritime Service of the Civil Guard of Málaga was dispatched to the location, which, with the support of a patrol from the Nature Protection Service (Seprona), freed the sea turtle that was entangled in an illegal gillnet.

The officers confirmed that the animal was not injured. It was an adult specimen about two meters in length. After being freed, it swam away into the open sea, while the members of the Maritime Service of the Civil Guard of Málaga removed the net.

The specimen was identified as a leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), the largest species of sea turtle in the world, which can reach up to 2.3 meters in length and weigh more than 600 kilograms. It is considered "vulnerable" on a global level.