Indonesian police said on Wednesday they had rescued 71 endangered green sea turtles after a raid on a warehouse on the holiday island of Bali.

The animals were alive but with their flippers tied with rope after police investigated suspicious activity by the 55-year-old warehouse owner, said senior detective Andi Rahmantiro.

The turtles were probably destined for local food markets, he added.

"We have been eyeing the area for a while but we needed stronger evidence. Yesterday our officers raided the location because the information was certain," Rahmantiro said.

"The suspect confessed to planning to sell the turtles for 700,000 rupiah (77 dollars) each. On the market they can actually reach about two to four million rupiah each."

An estimated 100,000 green sea turtles are killed in the Indo-Australian archipelago each year, mostly for their meat, according to environmental group WWF.

Turtle meat is a traditional part of the Balinese diet but consumption has fallen since its peak in the 1970s thanks to greater awareness of the species and its importance to the local tourism industry.

Rahmantiro said the rescued turtles, most of which were more than 10 years old, would be released back into the sea.

The warehouse owner faces up to five years in jail for violating conservation laws.