Brunei Steps Up Efforts to Save Endangered Marine Life
MERAGANG, 16 January 2010,
Saturday - THE establishment of the Turtle Conservation and Management
Centre could very well send the message to the international community
that Brunei is serious in conserving its precious marine life.
Speaking to The Brunei Times during the centre's foundation laying
ceremony at Meragang Beach yesterday, Minister of Industry and Primary
Resources (MIPR) Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Hj Yahya
Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar said, "Brunei takes marine life
conservation very seriously. Especially the issue of illegal poaching of
turtle eggs; this is something we are trying to prevent, (in order) to
save the species."
He said the centre, with its proximity to the sites where turtles
regularly nest, would allow the authorities to monitor for illegal
poaching activities more easily.
Fisheries Director Hjh Hasnah Ibrahim said that through her department's
turtle conservation and management programme, they monitor the turtles
which land and nest on Brunei's beaches and collect the eggs, enlisting
the aid of volunteers, to ensure that these eggs give the turtles a
better chance of survival.
Since 2000, the Fisheries Department has released as many as 5,000 baby
turtles as a result of the hatchery programme, she said.
One of the project officers for the Turtle Conservation and Management
Centre, Desimawati Hj Metali said that turtles caught in fishing nets
would also be treated at the centre and released back into the sea once
they recover.
Hjh Hasnah said that a turtle released in July last year under the
department's and Southeast Asia Fisheries Development Centre's (Seafdec)
"satellite turtle tracking" project, has been travelling in Brunei's
waters to this day.
Desimawati explained that this particular turtle's movements could give
a better insight as to the mysterious movements of turtles in Brunei
waters. She said that the turtles had been grazing at sites such as
Champion, which is believed to be a rich feeding ground for the
chelonians. However, the turtle has yet to return to nest despite it
being the season for nesting.
The project officer said that the nesting season spans from November to
April, with some turtles nesting as many as seven times during the
season depending on factors such as fertility.
Senior Fisheries Assistant Hariel Hj Simpul said that they have yet to
see turtles nest this season.
He explained that this could also be due to unfavourable conditions such
as weather and strong waves. Washed-up wooden logs and debris could also
deter the turtles from coming ashore to nest, he added.
"Such logs and other debris which are found on the beach, if not cleared
and thrown away, will cause difficulties for turtles to land and nest on
the beach," a Fisheries Department statement said.
"In such a situation, turtles will normally abandon their intentions to
nest and will immediately go back to the water. This will certainly
affect their numbers and may lead to a decline in the turtle population
and cause future extinction of this unique and old marine turtle from
our waters."
During the foundation laying ceremony yesterday, the minister and
officials witnessed a demonstration of how the logs were removed using
an excavator. The delegation also trekked down from Meragang Beach to
Muara Beach to inspect nesting sites and to clear any unwanted debris
along the way.
The Fisheries Department urges the public to do the same and ensure that
the beaches are free from obstacles which may hinder the turtles from
nesting.
- Courtesy of
the Brunei Times -
