Increase In Turtle Landings Expected This Year

Bernama 9 Mar 10;

KUALA TERENGGANU, March 9 (Bernama) -- The Terengganu Fisheries Department expects the number of turtle landings in the state to increase this compared to last year, as the reptile has been sighted earlier this year.

State Fisheries Department Director Zakaria Ismail said their surveillance discovered turtles landing on Feb 22 in Ma'daerah near here, compared to in March last year.

"This is a sign that turtle landings will increase this year and we plan to buy all the eggs for incubation to prevent turtle extinction in the future," he said when met by Bernama here Tuesday.

He said the department would cooperate with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to continue incubation efforts and ensure the continuation of these species by buying as many eggs from sellers.

Zakaria said till yesterday them department had bought 1,000 turtle eggs from sellers in Kemaman in stages since early this year.

-- BERNAMA