THREE-FOLD INCREASE IN TURTLE PROPULATION IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- The leatherback and green turtle
population in the peninsular Malaysia has increased from 100 in 1996 to 300 this year, according to a study conducted by the Fisheries Department.

Its research officer, Syed Abdullah Syed Abdul Kadir said the department
had identified the turtle breeding grounds and their routes through the
satellite telemetry to keep them under surveillance and prevent
encroachment.

"Access to the data has enabled us to protect them, thus enabling the
population to increase," he told reporters after the opening of the third
Regional Technical Consultation Meeting on Research for Stock Enhancement of Sea
Turtles here, Wednesday.

He said the data had been collected since 2004 with the cooperation of the
Asian countries (with the exception of Singapore and Laos) under the Japanese
Trust Fund IV programme.

"However, we are still saddled with the lack of satellite access devices in
the ocean as some had been entangled in the fishermen's nets," he said, adding
that the fifth programme from next year till 2012 would identify the suitable
modes and models to protect and manage the turtle feeding grounds.

"The turtle population in the region will be threatened if their feeding
grounds are not protected," he said, adding that the people should help protect
the turtle during their migration here.

Syed Abdul Kadir said turtles from various countries would converge at
feeding grounds to lay their eggs before returning to countries where they came
from.

He said the feeding grounds of the turtles were identified through the data
capturing process by the satellite telemetry which monitored their path.

The places included the Brunei Bay, the Andaman island, the Derawan island,
the Riau isles and the Sulu Sea (off Sabah).

The Japanese Trust Fund programme also involves the Southeast Asian
Fisheries Development Centre and the Marine Fishery Resources Management and
Development Department.

-- BERNAMA