New Straits Times
March 18, 2012
KUALA TERENGGANU: THE
cooperation of fisherfolk is vital to turtle conservation. Dr Jarina Mohd
Jani of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu's Institute of Oceanography and
Environment said more efforts were needed to improve relations
between fishermen and turtle conservationists.
"This enhanced engagement will contribute towards a better
understanding of how turtle conservation affects the fisheries sector.
"This will benefit the fishermen as healthy turtle
populations contribute towards a healthy ocean and more sustainable fishing
livelihoods," she said.
At least 11 dead green turtles (Chelonia mydas) were found washed
ashore in Terengganu in the first two months of the year, according to
Fisheries Department statistics.
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Malaysia said the animals died of
drowning after being entangled in the wire mesh of ray nets (pukat pari), which
are illegal.
The Fisheries Department seized 134 ray nets in the state's waters
from April to September last year under the Fisheries (Prohibited Methods of
Fishing) Regulations 1980. However, enforcement remains a challenge, and more
stringent measures are needed to ensure that the use of illegal fishing gear is
reduced.
Persatuan Khazanah Rakyat Ma'Daerah (Mekar), a community-based
environmental non-governmental organisation in Kertih, had organised three
turtle rescue and release workshops for about 150 fishermen in 2009 and last
year.
The workshops trained participants to rescue and resuscitate
turtles accidentally caught in fishing gear, and to subsequently release them
back into the sea.
The workshops, which were carried out in collaboration with and
co-facillitated by the Fisheries Department, WWF-Malaysia and WWF-Indonesia,
are a means of engaging local fishermen through education and awareness
activities.
Mekar also advised fishermen to notify the Fisheries Department or
WWF-Malaysia of any dead turtles they might find.
Following these workshops, several turtles were rescued by
fishermen by applying the techniques they learnt.
