SIM BAK HENG New Straits Times 22 May 15;
KUALA TERENGGANU: About 90 per cent of turtle eggs sold in the state are brought in illegally from neighbouring countries.
The state Fisheries Department said the turtle eggs were believed to have been smuggled in by fishermen who later distributed the eggs to traders in markets.
State Fisheries director Abdul Khalil Abdul Karim said most of the eggs sold in the markets were from the green turtle species and are shaped like ping pong ball.
“Only the sales of eggs from the leatherback turtle species are illegal.
Although the sales of eggs from the green turtle species was not illegal, it is illegal for them to smuggle it into the country.
“We hope to eventually ban the sales of all species of turtle eggs,” he said.
As for the other 10 per cent, he said the eggs were obtained from turtle landing points in the state.
Khalil said of the 46 landing points in the state, 12 were active landing points that were controlled by the department as incubation centres.
“As for the remaining 34 landing points, the locals would collect the eggs and sell them to traders in markets.
“The demand for turtle eggs are high from people outside the state.”
