Five Green turtles have been reported killed in Terengganu waters so far this year after they were trapped in ray nets.
Terengganu Fisheries director Mohd Munir Nawi said 36 Green turtles and one Leatherback turtle were killed last year after they were trapped in these nets.
"This shows the seriousness of the threat posed by the ray nets to the turtles," he told reporters after seizing ray nets in Kampung Seberang Marang near here today.
He said the dead turtles were all mature reptiles which had wanted to nest on the Terengganu beaches.
Munir said the department had launched an operation to eliminate the use of ray nets to save the turtles.
So far this year, 67 ray nets were seized, including 10 today, he added. Since 2004, up to 226 ray nets had been seized in the state.
"We fear that beginning next week, many turtles are expected to come ashore to nest and they may get caught in the ray nets," he said.
Munir said the Fisheries Act 1985 imposed a fine of up to RM20,000 or a jail term of up to two years, or both, on those who used ray nets. -- BERNAMA