By: Frederik Peter Alan Batkormbawa (MPA Yamdena Assitant for WWF-Indonesia Inner Banda Arc Subseascape)

That morning, drizzle and cold air enveloped Ohoi (village) Dian Pulau, Southeast Maluku Regency, Maluku Province. Udin Meturan, a fisherman who is often called Om Udin, accidentally found a green turtle (Chelonia mydas)with a carapace size of 60 cm long and 40 cm wide caught in his bycatch net.

This green turtle was caught accidentally around the waters of Vatukmas Island, still within the Coastal and Small Island Conservation Area, Kei Kecil Island, Islands and Surrounding Waters. Knowing that one of the endangered ancient species was caught in a net, small children and some villagers crowded around Om Udin and his boat to take a look.

"This is called a green turtle. You can't catch it, you have to give it back to the sea so it can live. If you get caught, you can be jailed," said one of the residents to the children who were watching Om Udin release a turtle wrapped in a net.

The captured turtle was released by Om Udin and the children of Ohoi Dian village with happy hearts. Om Udin is helping to protect the turtle population while directly educating the children of Ohoi Dian village about the importance of turtles to the balance of the aquatic ecosystem. So that they know, sea turtles are not to be hunted, sold, let alone consumed. This is a simple way for coastal communities to introduce their young generation to conservation.

The Kei Islands cluster and its surroundings are indeed one of the feeding areas and migration routes for sea turtles to areas around Maluku such as Papua and Australia. As a result, sea turtles are often accidentally caught by fishermen who are fishing.

Bycatch is not the only threat to the survival of these turtles. There is still rampant poaching and extractive use of sea turtle meat for consumption or sale at the local fish market. The turtle carapace is still a favorite of some fishermen who sell it at a high price. The turtle carapace can be made into various crafts such as bracelets, necklaces, and other souvenirs other to be traded.

This phenomenon certainly violates Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning the Conservation of Living Natural Resources and Ecosystems. When this law has not played a maximum role in protecting sea turtles from the threat of poaching, the role of fishermen is what we need.

We need more fishermen like Om Udin, who model for children the importance of protecting the environment for their future survival. The importance of early education on environmental conservation and the introduction of protected species to the community is a shared responsibility and neighborhood.

Coinciding the day after World Sea Turtle Day on June 16, the rescue of sea turtles carried out by the children of Ohoi Dian village, Southeast Maluku Regency is one of the small actions to prevent illegal capture of sea turtles and create educational value to the children themselves.

Apart from the annual celebration, it is our daily task to invite more young people to help protect sea turtles from extinction. Planting the value of conservation from an early age starting from our coasts.