Green sea turtle numbers are slowly bouncing back in Malaysia, but their cousins, the olive ridley and hawksbill turtles, are still vulnerable and critically endangered. — Filepic/The Star
NOW that green sea turtles have rebounded in numbers, conservation efforts should shift to other species still at risk, such as the hawksbill and other marine animals, says WWF-Malaysia.
Spokesperson Gavin Jolis calls the rebound a proven case of successful conservation, and says that it provides clear evidence that sustained investment works, and should continue and be extended to other priority areas.
Jolis: ‘We must keep conserving green turtles to safeguard the progress made, while increasing attention on species that face far greater risk.’ — Pic providedJolis, who is the marine species strategy manager for the Marine Programme, says while the species’ recovery is worth celebrating, we must also remember the loss of our giant leatherbacks and recognise that long-term commitment is essential to prevent history from repeating itself.
“We must keep conserving green turtles to safeguard the progress made, while increasing attention on species that face far greater risk,” he says.
Focus, argues Jolis, should shift to saving the hawksbill sea turtles.
“The hawksbills remain globally critically endangered for Malaysia, with significant and viable nesting populations left only in Melaka and Sabah,” he says, adding that the species is globally threatened by the collection of eggs, poaching of adults, coastal development, and becoming bycatch.
And while other species such as olive ridleys still nest on Malaysian shores occasionally, the populations are fragmented, requiring continued monitoring and protection, he says.
“We should also look at shark-like rays such as wedgefish and giant guitarfish, which are among the most threatened fishes in the world and often caught as bycatch.
“Expanding our focus to these species ensures a healthier marine ecosystem for the future,” he says in a recent interview.
Malaysia, according to Jolis, has contributed meaningfully to the progress of green turtle conservation globally that has begun to turn the tide with the Inter-national Union for Conservation of Nature status reclassification to least concern announced in October.
“The East Indian-West Pacific green turtle subpopulations, which Malaysia is a part of, are assessed as least concern as well.
“The subpopulation is dominated by several large nesting populations, including those from Malaysia,” he says.
Malaysia, he further details, played an important role in the subpopulation assessment by contributing long-term data from four key sites: Sarawak, Turtle Islands Park and Lankayan Island in Sabah, and Chagar Hutang in Terengganu.
While turtle populations in Sabah and Terengganu are growing well, the Sara-wak population, while stable, appears to be growing very slowly; however, that is still encouraging as this is despite the historical long-term trend reflecting a decline.
“These contributions helped shape the global picture, yet local threats persist, underscoring the need for continued action,” says Jolis, adding that this is in spite of the major green turtle populations in Malaysia being seen as growing or stabilising in recent years.
One of the biggest threats is accidental capture in fishing gear, especially trawls and gill nets, which in recent years Malaysia has started to address with turtle excluder devices, known popularly as TEDs.
Green sea turtle hatchlings being readied for release. Consistent and sustained conservation efforts have helped improve the marine animals’ numbers. — MELODY L. GOH/The StarOther concerns are the illegal collection of turtle eggs, poaching of adults, and the emerging risk of boat strikes in tourist areas.
Coastal development, beach erosion, and bright artificial lights on land continue to disrupt nesting and confuse hatchlings trying to reach the sea; at sea, turtles are losing feeding grounds as seagrass beds are damaged by dredging, land reclamation, and poor water quality.
These issues also threaten dugongs, another iconic marine species.
“These threats remind us that while global numbers may be improving, Malaysia’s green turtles still need strong protection and community support to survive at the local level.”
Jolis says the country has achieved remarkable progress in sea turtle conservation over the past five decades, thanks to the dedication of agencies such as the Fisheries Depart-ment, Sarawak Forestry Corpora-tion, Sabah Parks and the Sabah Wildlife Depar-tment, NGOs, and the commitment of local communities.
“Their hard work has helped protect nesting beaches, reduce threats at sea, and deliver encouraging results for green turtles.
“In general, many sites in Malaysia now have adequate conservation and monitoring programmes in place on nesting beaches,” he says.
WWF-Malaysia also encourages the use of innovative tools such as genetics to strengthen conservation and research as well as enforcement efforts addressing the illegal collection of turtle eggs, poaching of adults, and trade.
However, adds Jolis, protecting these species requires us to look beyond nesting beaches and address threats across their entire lifecycle.
“Identifying their migration routes and foraging grounds – often located along coasts in Malaysia and neighbouring countries – will help us design effective interventions at each critical habitat or important marine turtle area.
“This ensures that turtles are safeguarded not only on the beaches where they nest but also in the coastal waters and foraging areas where they spend most of their lives,” he says.
Community-based conservation, he adds, remains at the heart of success.
“When local people lead, turtles thrive. Expanding these community-driven approaches, supported by science-based tools, will secure Malaysia’s marine heritage for generations to come.”
