WWF-Malaysia: Poaching does occur along nesting beaches in Terengganu

The Star 4 Aug 11;

KUALA TERENGGANU: WWF Ma­lay­­­sia has refuted the state govern­ment’s claim that turtle eggs sold in Terengganu were from Sabah, Sarawak and the Philippines.

WWF Malaysia Terengganu Turtle Conservation team leader Rahayu Zulkifli said the statement by Turtle Sanctuary Advisory Board chairman Datuk Mazlan Ngah could be premature as poaching of eggs does occur along nesting beaches in the state.

“There are currently 20 beaches in the state in which licensed collectors are allowed to gather the eggs within designated sites.

“However, only eggs collected from 12 nesting beaches are sold to WWF Malaysia and the state Fisheries Department under the buyback scheme,” she said.

She added that local traders could clearly distinguish between locally derived turtle eggs, which fetch a higher price compared to those obtained elsewhere.

She urged the state government to investigate as the eggs could have been stolen from nesting beaches.

“Stealing from nesting beaches is an offence under the Tereng­ganu Turtle Enactment 1951 (Amen­ded) 1987.

“At present, there is no national ban on the consumption of turtle eggs, with only the sale of leatherback turtle eggs banned in Terengganu.

“Eggs of other turtle species continue to be consumed and traded,” she said.

Ban turtle eggs trade in Malaysia: WWF
AFP Google News 3 Aug 11;

KUALA LUMPUR — Conservationists Wednesday urged Malaysia to impose a national ban on the trade and consumption of turtle eggs to ensure the survival of the marine creatures.

Turtles once arrived in their thousands to lay eggs on Malaysian beaches but are now increasingly rare due to poaching and coastal development.

"WWF-Malaysia continues its call for a comprehensive ban on the consumption and trade of turtle eggs of all marine turtle species to ensure the survival of these majestic creatures," Environmental group WWF-Malaysia said in statement.

With no national ban on eating turtle eggs, they are sold openly in eastern Terengganu state where only the sale of leatherback turtle eggs is not permitted, the group said.

Turtle eggs are are also available elsewhere in the country.

WWF said contrary to popular belief most people consider the eggs a "delicacy" and eat them for pleasure, not as a source of protein or for their reputed medicinal or aphrodisiac effects.

WWF Urges State Government To Carry Out Investigation Into Origins Of Turtle Eggs Sold In Terengganu
WWF 3 Aug 11;

PETALING JAYA, August 3 – WWF-Malaysia urges for an investigation to be carried out by the Terengganu government on the origins of turtle eggs sold in the state. The national conservation trust responds to the statements made by Turtle Sanctuary Advisory Board Chairman, Datuk Mazlan Ngah, as reported by Bernama in ‘Board Says Turtle Eggs Sold In Terengganu Markets Not From State’, 26 July 2011. The article quoted Datuk Mazlan who said that the turtle eggs sold in Terengganu were from Sabah, Sarawak and the Philippines. WWF-Malaysia would like to stress here that this is a dangerous assumption to make based on the following facts.

There are currently 20 beaches in Terengganu which are tendered out to egg collectors who are licensed to patrol and collect all turtle eggs laid within specifically designated nesting beaches. Out of these, eggs collected from only 12 nesting beaches are being sold to WWF and the State Department of Fisheries under their respective egg buyback scheme due to their proximity to the nearest hatcheries. Rampant poaching does occur along nesting beaches and police reports have been made. We can then safely assume that some of the eggs sold in the State were locally derived. This is further corroborated during visits to the local market in Kuala Terengganu where traders clearly distinguish between locally derived turtle eggs which fetch higher prices compared to those allegedly sourced from elsewhere.

An investigation into the origins of these turtle eggs must be made a priority by the Terengganu government as the turtle eggs found sold in the local markets could have been stolen from the nesting beaches, which is an offence under the Terengganu Turtle Enactment 1951 (Amended) 1987. All turtle eggs in Sabah and Sarawak are protected under the law. Sabah’s Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 and Sarawak Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998 have listed marine turtles under their legislation as a totally protected animal, with the ban on turtle egg consumption and sale covering the whole state of Sabah.

In addition, under the Customs (Prohibition of Exports) Order 1988 – First Schedule and Customs (Prohibition of Import) Order 1988 – First Schedule, the import and export of turtle eggs are not allowed.

As for Philippines, turtles are listed under the CITES Appendix 1 (for species threatened with extinction). Commercial trade of these species is illegal, except when the purpose of the import is not commercial, for instance for scientific research.

The Chairman’s claims that turtle eggs were brought in from these three locations implies that all eggs currently sold openly in the markets are smuggled and hence illegally traded in Terengganu. For these reasons, WWF-Malaysia further calls for the immediate cessation of turtle egg trade until the source of eggs sold in Terengganu can be determined.

At present, there is no national ban on the consumption of turtle eggs, with only the sale of leatherback turtle
eggs banned in Terengganu while the eggs of other turtle species can continue to be consumed and traded. WWF-Malaysia continues its call for a comprehensive ban on the consumption and trade of turtle eggs of all marine turtle species to ensure the survival of these majestic creatures.