Dead sea turtles in Malaysia worry conservationists

Sean Augustin, New Straits Times 25 Jan 08;

Kuala Trengganu: Conservationists are troubled over the discovery of three dead turtles on the state’s beaches within three weeks.

UMT Turtle and Rehabilitation group leader Professor Chan Eng Heng, who just a week ago pleaded for more work to be done to save the Green and Hawksbill turtles, said the deaths occur in such a sort time span it is worrying.

About 20 turtle deaths were recorded in 2006 and last year, though there could be more that went unreported. The first discovery of an adult Green turtle was made on Jan 6 on the Tok Jembal beach, while the second was that of an adult Giant soft shell turtle in Merang on January 16.

On Wednesday an adult male Green turtle was found washed ashore on the Mengebang Telipot beach, just outside the Universiti Malaysia Terengganu campus.

While the causes of death of the turtles are unknown, Chan believes they may have been making their way to the Terengganu coast to nest, and she suspects they may have been caught in trawling nets.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, she called for the “turtle excluder device” (TED) to be made mandatory for trawlers. The TED is a grid of bars with an opening, usually fitted into the neck of the trawl net.
Small animals pass through the bars and are caught in the bag end of the trawl, while larger animals, such as turtles and sharks, are ejected through an opening when they strike the grid bars.

"TED is now used voluntarily, although it was found to be effective when it was tested in Perak more than a decade ago. Authorities should implement the use of the TED, especially during the monsoon season when restricted trawling zones are opened up," she said.

Third turtle found dead in less than 21 days
The Star 27 Jan 08;

KUALA TERENGGANU: In less than 21 days, three turtles have been found dead in Terengganu beaches.

The latest case was reported late on Thursday evening when a lifeless male green turtle measuring 89.5cm was found on the beach off Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) here.

“The turtle most likely drowned in the fishermen’s net as there are no other visible external signs,” said Prof Chan Eng Heng, leader of Turtle Aid Malaysia .

On Jan 6, a green turtle was washed up at Tok Jembal beach, some two kilometres from the university while on Jan 15, a giant soft-shell turtle (Pelochelys cantorii) was found dead along the beach fronting Botanical Course Camp Resort in Merang.

The giant soft-shell turtle was 63cm long and 55cm wide.

Prof Chan said in the last two years, 20 turtles were reported stranded in Terengganu.

“The Fisheries Department can also look into the possibility of enforcing the use of a device that allows a captured turtle to escape when caught in a fisherman’s net,” she said.