BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: A total of 723 kilogrammes of marine debris was collected at Tanjung Batu Beach on Saturday (Feb 14) as LAUT Brunei officially launched its Turtle Conservation Programme Beach Clean campaign.
Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah Pengiran Salleh Ab Rahaman, Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah, Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda Muhammad Aiman ibni Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah and Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Faathimah Az-Zahraa’ Raihaanul Bolkiah Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah signed up and joined the volunteers in the beach clean-up activities.
Sixty volunteers participated in the activity, including members of the local community.
The clean-up marks the start of a structured monthly series under LAUT Brunei’s 10-Year Turtle Conservation Programme, a national, community-driven conservation initiative designed to protect marine turtle nesting beaches while building a sustainable conservation economy around them.
Brunei’s coastline is regarded as a significant Olive Ridley nesting site within Borneo, making habitat protection both a national and regional priority.
Having identified Tanjung Batu Beach as a turtle-friendly nesting site, the monthly beach cleans are designed to assure that the turtles continue to have a safe nesting site.
All debris collected during the campaign will be categorised and recorded to contribute to long-term environmental monitoring, helping to inform policy, beach management strategies and future conservation planning.
Beyond beach clean-ups, the programme integrates four core pillars: community engagement and education, scientific monitoring and beach protection, the establishment of a marine turtle hatchery and rescue and rehabilitation centre, and the creation of sustainable livelihood pathways linked to conservation.
The monthly beach cleans will serve as the public-facing entry point into this wider Marine Wildlife Stewardship Network, encouraging families, schools, corporate groups and local residents to take an active role in protecting Brunei’s natural heritage. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
