PUTRAJAYA: The Fisheries Malaysia Department is amending the Fisheries Regulations under Section 27 of the Fisheries Act 1985, specifically the Fisheries (Control of Endangered Species of Fish) Regulations 1999, to include nine marine mammal species in the existing protection list.
In a statement on Thursday (Feb 19), the department’s director-general, Datuk Adnan Hussain, said the amendment aims to strengthen regulatory provisions, protection measures and law enforcement against any form of threat, including bycatch and habitat disturbance.
He said the nine marine mammal species proposed for listing are Balaenoptera omurai, Peponocephala electra, Feresa attenuata, Tursiops aduncus, Stenella coeruleoalba, Stenella attenuata, Ziphius cavirostris, Steno bredanensis and Kogia sima.
He said all whale and dolphin species recorded in Malaysian waters require additional monitoring and protection to prevent the risk of population decline.
"In conjunction with International Marine Mammal Protection Day, the Department of Fisheries continues to develop the National Plan of Action for Dugong," he said.
"The dugong (Dugong dugon) is an indicator species for the health of coastal marine ecosystems and is closely linked to the sustainability of seagrass beds that support fisheries productivity, coastal protection and blue carbon storage," he said.
In addition to strengthening domestic protection, Adnan said the initiative also supports compliance with international trade standards.
"Although Malaysia is not directly subject to this law, countries exporting fisheries products to the United States must ensure their fisheries management systems and bycatch control measures are comparable to the marine mammal protection standards enforced by the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)," he said.
According to Adnan, the ecosystem-based approach outlined in the plan will focus on marine spatial management, empowering coastal communities, reducing bycatch risks and protecting critical habitats, including seagrass beds. – Bernama
