Turtle eggs: WWF again calls for ban
Published on: Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Selangor: The World Wide Fund for Nature – Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia) reiterated its call to impose a national ban on the trade, consumption and possession of turtle eggs to not only ease management of turtle conservation, but ease enforcement as no turtle egg will be allowed into national markets.WWF – Malaysia commended the marine police for foiling the attempt to smuggle 2,100 marine turtles eggs into Sandakan on June 25, however while enforcement is effective, it felt it would have been better for the smuggling not to have taken place. WWF-Malaysia Executive Director / Chief Executive Officer Dato Dr Dionysius Sharma said if left undisturbed on a nesting beach, about 70 per cent to 80 per cent eggs would have hatched.
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"We have now lost approximately 1,500 hatchlings," he said in a statement here, on Monday. "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," he added. WWF-Malaysia Head of Marine Robecca Jumin said 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 poachers and of being caught by various fishing gear.
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"Earlier this year, 19 turtle carcasses were found in Sabah waters as a result of illegal activity. From January to May 2015, 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," she said.
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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 Nov 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 believed that the challenges in addressing turtle smuggling does not rest with 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. Whilst the sale of turtle eggs is prohibited in Sabah and Sarawak, it is not explicitly prohibited in Terengganu with the exception of leatherback eggs. The situation is worsened by the fact that the absence of a national ban is permitting the sale of turtle eggs that are purportedly sourced from another state (Sabah) or internationally (Philippines). As it is difficult to differentiate turtle eggs by the place of origin, effective enforcement is challenging. 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 and also the Coral Triangle Initiative National Plan of Action (Goal 5), which seek to improve the status of threatened species such as turtles. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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