KOTA KINABALU: World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has called for a nationwide ban on the trade of sea turtle eggs of any kind, and not just in Sabah and Sarawak.
WWF said all states in Malaysia should emulate Sarawak and Sabah’s ban on the trade of endangered animal’s eggs.
“As states are left to make laws relating to turtles under the Federal Constitution, this has resulted in varying standards being applied in each state,” it said in a statement yesterday.
“For instance, it is not explicitly prohibited in Terengganu with the exception of Leatherback Turtle eggs. The absence of a national ban is permitting the sale of eggs that are purportedly sourced from another state or any country,” it said.
WWF noted it was practically impossible to distinguish where the turtle eggs came from, making enforcement difficult.
It made the statement after the marine police foiled an attempt to smuggle 2,100 turtle eggs into Sandakan recently.
While enforcement is effective, WWF said it would have been better for the smuggling not to have taken place.
WWF Malaysia executive director and chief executive officer (CEO) Dato’ Dr Dionysius Sharma, said if the turtle eggs were left undisturbed on a nesting beach, about 70 per cent to 80 per cent of them would have hatched.
“We have now lost approximately 1,500 hatchlings,” he said.
“Malaysia is fortunate to host four species of marine turtles; namely, leatherback, green, hawksbill, and Olive Ridley turtles. Sadly, the number of turtle nesting has reduced and some populations are on the brink of extinction. The leatherback turtles have not been sighted in Terengganu in the last five years,” added Dr Sharma.
Robecca Jumin, WWF-Malaysia head of marine, pointed out that a marine turtle’s battle for survival is daunting.
Turtles are being robbed of their nesting grounds due to coastal development and land reclamation, and they are put off from landing on beaches by light pollution.
Whilst at sea, turtles are in peril at the hands of illegal poachers and of being caught by various fishing gears.
Earlier this year, 19 turtle carcasses were found in Sabah waters as a result of illegal activity.
From January to May this year, at least 60 male and female turtles were found dead in Terengganu due to drowning in fishing nets (pukat pari and rawai tanpa umban).
“If a turtle manages to beat all odds and matures to return to the same beach it was born to nest, it may face poachers who take its eggs and end the turtle’s cycle of life,” said Robecca.
According to WWF-Malaysia, the issue goes beyond that of turtle egg smuggling.
Where there is demand, there is supply; and vice versa.
However, unlike chicken or other farmed animals, turtles are wildlife and migratory and thus, there are no means of artificially increasing their numbers.
In light of this and compounded by the various pressures that jeopardise the survival of turtles, it is absolutely imperative that immediate action is taken to curb supply and demand for turtle and turtle eggs at the federal level.
Concerns on livelihood or income generation should not arise as a survey conducted by WWF-Malaysia in Terengganu in November 2013 indicated that turtle eggs do not contribute a significant percentage of income to villagers involved in the turtle egg trade.
Other alternative livelihood programmes, if developed sustainably for local communities, will have higher benefits, such as sustainable turtle tourism.
WWF-Malaysia believes that the challenges in addressing turtle smuggling does not rest with the state of Sabah alone as it poses a national threat to not only biodiversity but also national security.
Malaysia has had little success with effective turtle conservation.
As states are left to make laws relating to turtles under the Federal Constitution, this has resulted in varying standards being applied in each state.
National policies have been put in place for the purpose of conserving turtles.
These policies include the National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sea Turtles as well as the Coral Triangle Initiative National Plan of Action (Goal 5), which seek to improve the status of threatened species such as turtles.
Both these national level policies are due for review and it is crucial that a ban on turtle egg possession is emphasised and actions on addressing marine wildlife crime is included.
Malaysia is also the current Chair of the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) Regional Plan of Action for Endangered species including sea turtles and in light of the numerous unfortunate turtle incidents in the past year, we should be proactive in seeking resolve.
WWF-Malaysia continues its call to impose a national ban on the trade, consumption and possession of turtle eggs.
This would not only ease management of turtle conservation, but may ease enforcement as no turtle egg will be allowed into our national markets.
This would also be in line with its national commitment under the Convention on Biological Diversity, the CTI-CFF, the Indian Ocean and South-east Asia Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding (IOSEA Marine Turtle MOU) and so forth.
In addition to seeking a national ban on turtle egg consumption, possession or trade, it is also crucial to beef up enforcement, effectively conserve biodiversity, implement national policies in the course of sustainable development, move towards integrated ocean management, and educate the public on our obligations to the current and future generations in preserving our natural heritage like marine turtles.