Shell-Shocked Turtles Land In Lesser Numbers Due To Development

Bernama 6 Nov 08;

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- Shell-shocked by development activities, fewer turtles are landing on sandy beaches to procreate nationwide.

What was once popular turtle landing spots in the quiet and peaceful ambience of the beaches is no more.

It has changed as a result of too much development (on the beaches), noted Fisheries Department director-general Datuk Junaidi Che Ayub.

"We have to reduce the (development) activities. The beaches must be conducive for simple turtle landing," he said in his speech at the National Turtle Symposium and the launch of the National Action Plan for Turtle Conservation and Management in Malaysia here today.

His speech text was read by department deputy director-general (operations), Suhaili Lee.

Junaidi said, other reasons for less turtle landing in the country included illegal turtle-catching activities by the irresponsible and turtles inadvertently getting caught in fishing nets.

Junaidi, however, said that the number of turtle landing in the country could be described as stable as it showed a little increase in the past three years, except for the Leatherback Turtle.

"The Leatherback used to lay their eggs here but they hardly return as they were either caught in international waters or at the mercy of turtle-catching syndicates," he added.

In 2006, no Leatherback Turtle landed in Malaysian beaches while in 2005, there was only landing recorded, said Junaidi.

He said this year, however, eight Leatherback Turtle landings were recorded.

Reiterating an action plan, Junaidi said it would involve aspects of turtle sanctuary, educational programmes and standardisation of turtle-related regulations.

Among the priority was to set up the Malaysia Sea Turtle Working Group which would evaluate the progress of the action plan in the next three years.

Meanwhile, Turtle Islands and Sabah Parks manager Fazrullah Rizally Abdul Razak, when met at the symposium, said the high demand for turtle eggs in Sabah led to rampant smuggling from a neighbouring country.

He said turtle hunting was popular among fishermen from China and Vietnam for sale as food, medication or ornament.

Hence, in a bid to conserve the turtles, he said the Sabah Fisheries Department was studying the effectiveness of Turtle Excluder Device (TED) which was installed on a fisherman's boat to prevent turtles from being caught in the net.

-- BERNAMA