The Star 2 Apr 15;
KOTA KINABALU: A special marine turtle anti-poaching task force has been formed in view of the worsening cases of poaching in the state.
“This is among the measures taken to prevent possible extinction of marine turtles,” Sabah Wildlife Department director William Baya said during a dialogue on marine turtle poaching and smuggling in Malaysia, organised by the department and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia.
A total of 99 cases involving 134,855 poached eggs were recorded from 1999 to 2013.
Last year, 60 turtle carcasses were found in Pulau Tiga and four in east coast Semporna. Another 19 carcasses have been found in Pulau Tiga so far this year.
WWF-Malaysia deputy head of Marine Robecca Jumin said the demand for turtle eggs and meat was on the rise.
Malaysia, as a main migratory route for marine turtles, must have strict enforcement to protect the species, she said.
“We hope the taskforce will be operational soon. Concerned citizens can start working with the task force by providing information that can contribute to better protection of turtles in our waters.”
Representatives from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Customs Department, Sabah Parks, Department of Fisheries Sabah and the Civil Defence Department, among others, took part in the dialogue.
The marine turtle anti-poaching taskforce will involve all agencies present at the dialogue in efforts to save turtles in Sabah through the Malaysian Wildlife Enforcement Network.
The taskforce is also expected to strengthen its collaboration with neighbouring countries through regional initiatives such as the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion, Coral Triangle Initiative and Asean-Wildlife Enforcement Network.
Apart from that, the taskforce is also expected to strengthen conservation efforts in remote monitoring and surveillance, especially in targeted areas, and to work towards zero poaching.
Marine Turtle Anti-Poaching Taskforce Formed as Outcome of Enforcement Dialogue for turtles in Sabah
WWF 25 Mar 15;
25 March 2015, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah: An enforcement dialogue on marine turtle poaching and smuggling in Malaysia was co-organised by Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) and WWF-Malaysia on 24 March. The dialogue participants included representatives from Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Royal Malaysian Customs, Sabah Parks, Department of Fisheries Sabah (DoFS), Royal Malaysian Army (Taskforce 450), Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU), and Department of Civil Defence.
The outcome of this full-day dialogue is the formation of a Marine Turtle Anti-Poaching Taskforce.
“There are a total of 99 reported cases with 134,855 poached eggs between 1999 to 2013. In 2014, 60 turtle carcasses were found in Pulau Tiga and four found in Semporna. This year, 19 more carcasses have been found in Pulau Tiga,”presented Mr Augustine Tuuga, deputy director of SWD, during the dialogue yesterday.
Mr William Baya, director of SWD said, “With recent cases on illegal turtle activities in Sabah, it is important to start taking preventive action to avoid the possibility of extinction of our marine turtles in Sabah. The enforcement dialogue has allowed related agencies to come together to brainstorm and share information on turtle issues respectively. From there, we were able to form a taskforce against marine turtle poaching.”
The marine turtle anti-poaching taskforce recognises the importance of sea turtles in the bio-diversity of Sabah waters and economically as turtles attract international tourists. It will involve all agencies present at the dialogue who has agreed to these calls to actions:
Collaborate and work together to save turtles in Sabah through the Malaysian Wildlife Enforcement Network (MY-WEN).
Strengthen collaborations with neighbouring countries through regional initiatives such as Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion (SSME), Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI), ASEAN-Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) especially in law enforcement, information sharing and capacity building.
Strengthen approach in remote monitoring and surveillance, especially in targeted areas.
Appoint focal points within each organisations such as Department of Fisheries (DoF), MMEA, Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD), Sabah Parks, Customs, Marine Police, Royal Malaysian Navy, and Malaysian Armed Forces to be assigned for turtle poaching cases.
Aim for zero poaching – culprits caught with proof on turtle poaching will be charged in court.
“The demand for turtle eggs and meat are increasingly rampant now and with Malaysia as a main migratory route for marine turtles, it is important for us to take up the responsibility to create strict enforcement in order to protect the species before it goes to extinction,” Ms Robecca Jumin, deputy head of Marine, WWF-Malaysia says.
“WWF-Malaysia is very pleased with the outcome of the dialogue and look forward towards a closer collaboration with SWD and the taskforce to combat illegal marine turtle activities. We hope that the taskforce will be operationalised soon and concern citizens can start working with and providing information that can contribute to better protection of turtles in our waters. This is the first in a series of dialogues that we hope to happen with neighbouring countries to create a transboundary taskforce. WWF is in full support of this marine turtle anti-poaching taskforce.”
