A sea turtle was rescued from drowning in Oaxaca after a discarded plastic spoon became lodged inside the animal’s mouth.

A fisherman spotted the turtle floating off the coast of Puerto Escondido in the municipality of San Pedro Mixtepec and notified authorities.

Civil Protection personnel captured the turtle and took it to a nearby campus of the University of the Sea (Umar) after seeing the plastic object stuck in its mouth.

Specialists removed the spoon and returned the turtle back to the sea after assessing its health.

Meanwhile, the state Environment Secretariat has announced an awareness workshop for the region’s 5,000 fishermen and anyone else interested.

The workshop follows the death of over 300 endangered marine turtles found trapped in a fishing net in August. The incident is still under investigation.

Entitled “Incidental fishing of endangered species, problems and solutions,” the workshop will take place in the Mexican Turtle Center at Mazunte and focus on the importance of conservation, protection and proper care of local plant and animal life.

Source: Milenio (sp)