A giant sea turtle, measuring 70kg in weight and 1 metre in length, has been held in captivity for six days by a fisherman in central Nghe An province's Quynh Luu district.

The sea turtle, the largest of its kind ever caught in the province, was priced at 30 million VND (1,500 USD) by traders.

The fisherman has defied requests by the provincial Department of Aquatic Resources Protection to release the turtle, demanding a large sum of money.

The department reported the case to higher-level authorities and, in the meantime, has asked the fisherman to keep the turtle safe./.