This is the heartbreaking moment an endangered sea turtle was seen feeding on sewage pouring out of an underwater pipe.

Scuba diving instruction Charn Joon Park noticed the adult female green turtle during a dive with friends along Bolabog Beach in Boracay, the Philippines, on September 18.

In the disturbing video, the sea turtle stuffed its head inside the opening of the pipe as the green filth poured out of it.

Several tropical fish were also seen feeding on the pollution as they swam around the area next to the turtle.

Ocean lover Charn, who is originally from South Korea, said: "I'm afraid that this incident could trigger another 'closure' of the beach but I guess people need to know about it.''

Divers and residents on the island complained to local officials.

Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) had started investigating after seeing the video.

The Environmental Management Bureau Region 6 later issued a cease and desist order against Boracay Tubi System, Inc. to address the issue.

The Department of Environment and Natural resources analysed the water near the pipe and it tested positive for Coliform bacteria, a bacteria which is usually found in human or animal waste.

In 2019, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte described Boracay Island as a "cesspool" due to pollution and ordered the temporary closure from April to October 2018.

The island attracted two million visitors the previous year but has now limited numbers to 19,000 a day and banned beach parties, smoking and drinking.

Green sea turtles are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and are protected from exploitation in most countries.