Taiwan turtle-touching case referred to prosecutors — Taipei Times

Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration has referred to the Penghu District Prosecutors Office a case involving a German woman who touched a sea turtle near Beauty Cave on Xiaoliuqiu Island. Taipei Times reports, citing Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration.

Report of the incident

A coast guard unit received a report about the incident last week. A patrol that arrived at the scene shortly before 6 p.m. found a woman from Germany and her companion. According to the agency, the woman apologized and said she did not know that touching turtles was prohibited.

The person who reported the incident photographed the woman while she was in contact with the animal and gave the pictures to coast guard officers. The beaches of Xiaoliuqiu are a breeding site for nearly 200 sea turtles.

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The Coast Guard Administration reminded the public that disturbing sea turtles is an offense under the Wildlife Conservation Act. The penalty includes up to one year in prison and a fine of between NT$60,000 and NT$300,000. The agency said that the number of cases of people touching turtles has risen again this year.

Turtle freed from fishing net

Separately, the coast guard reported the rescue of a juvenile green sea turtle that had become entangled in a fishing net 0.3 nautical miles from Xinghai Fishing Harbor in Pingtung County. The turtle was spotted by the crew of patrol vessel PP-10052 during a routine patrol.

Officers freed the animal from the net, examined it and found no injuries, after which they released it back into the sea. The coast guard urged people not to discard waste into the water, as abandoned nets, trash and other objects pose a danger to marine animals.