Malaysia: Steady landings of hawksbill turtle in Malacca

BERNAMA New Straits Times 11 May 16;

ALOR GAJAH: The number of hawksbill turtle landings at 18 spots on the beaches of Malacca have been consistent with an average of between 350 to 450 turtles laying about 25,000 to 40,000 eggs annually.

State Fisheries Department director Rosmawati Ghazali said nonetheless the number of hawksbill turtle landings at several locations in the state had dropped, among them was Pulau Upeh due to various factors.

She said the coastal waters of Malacca was the focus of hawksbill turtle to land and lay eggs and if the habitat along the beach was affected, the number of turtle landings would also be similarly affected.

"Last year, there were only 14 turtle landings in Pulau Upeh compared to more than 100 previously.

On the overall, only 418 turtles landed on the beaches of Malacca last year compared to 438 turtles in 2014.

"Global warming is among the factors which caused a decrease in the number of turtle landings apart from water quality and development near landing sites," she told reporters after a Malacca Fisheries Department programme with the Media at the Turtle Conservation and Information Centre in Padang Kemunting here. --Bernama