OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Two Hawksbill turtles, rescued from fishermen who had illegally caught them in this resort town about a year ago, were released into the ocean at Dolphin Cove Wednesday, as part of ongoing efforts by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) to preserve the environmentally protected creatures.

Marilyn Burrowes, manager of Dolphin Cove, told the Observer that the turtles were taken from fishermen who had speared them and had intended to sell them to a restaurant. The reptiles were taken into custody as part of an agreement between NEPA and Dolphin Cove, through which the tourist attraction has been designated a rescue station.

The turtles, fondly called Bob and Sue, were later nursed back to health with the assistance of a visiting Mexican veterinarian.

“We are very grateful to Dolphin Cove for what they have done; it’s the right thing to do,” NEPA’s environmental officer Josette La Hee, said after the animals’ release.

She explained that turtles are protected under local wildlife protection laws, in addition to international trade laws that ban the hunting and trading of the reptiles. Penalties for violating the laws include a 12-month jail sentence or a $100,000 fine.

Significant reductions in turtle and other wildlife populations have led to the implementation of laws seeking to protect them. Of the seven species of turtles in the world, six are in Caribbean waters.

The reproduction period for the Hawksbill turtle is a relatively short eight years, as some species take up to 80 years to spawn.

Meanwhile, an environment programme that seeks to educate the youth about matters affecting the environment has been launched by Dolphin Cove and NEPA. As part of the programme, students from schools across the island are taken on trips to the tourist attraction where they are given tips on how to protect the environment.