WWF: Ban ALL sea turtle eggs trade

Sabah turtle eggs sold in pasar Payang in Terengganu. (picture goes with story

KUCHING: The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is urging for a nationwide ban on the trade of sea turtle eggs of any kind.

In a statement, WWF said all states should take after Sarawak and Sabah’s trade ban on the 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.

“For instance, it is not explicitly prohibited in Terengganu with the exception of leatherback eggs. The absence of a national ban is permitting the sale of eggs that are purportedly sourced from another state or any country.”

The environmental body noted it was practically impossible to tell apart turtle eggs by their place origin, thereby making enforcement difficult.

The statement was issued following news of the Marine Police foiling an attempted smuggling of 2,100 turtle eggs into Sandakan, as reported by The Star last week.

WWF-Malaysia chief executive Datuk Dr Dionysius Sharma said if left undisturbed on a nesting beach, about 70% to 80% of the eggs would have hatched. “We have now lost approximately 1,500 hatchlings,” he said.

“Malaysia is fortunate to host four species of marine turtles. Sadly, the number of turtle nesting has reduced and some populations are on the brink of extinction. Leatherback turtles have not been sighted in Terengganu in the last five years.”

He added, 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.

“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,” WWF-Malaysia marine head Robecca Jumin said.

“The issue goes beyond that of turtle egg smuggling. Where there is demand, there is supply.”

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 did not contribute a significant percentage of income to villagers involved in the trade, she added.