Penyu Comel

Fig. 1. (a) Number of Green Sea turtles landing in Geliga on 2010-2013 (b) Number of Sea turtles landing in Chagar Hutang on 2010-2013.

 

         The Green Turtle is the most common species found in the region of Peninsular Malaysia. Based on the chart above, the total number of Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) landings at Geliga, Kemaman can be seen from the year 2010 until 2013 and only this species that landed in Geliga, Kemaman. Whereas in Chagar Hutang, Redang Island, there are two species that landed, the Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and Hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata). However, the number of Hawksbill turtles was just 22 turtles in the span of 4 years. Both these place have the highest number of Green turtle nesting compared to other area in Terengganu. The state government have designated areas for the Fisheries Department to collect the turtle eggs and this area included Geliga and Redang Island.

 

        Based on the bar chart, it can be seen that from the year of 2010 up until 2012 there is a decline in number of turtles landed both for Geliga, Kemaman and Chagar Hutang, Redang Island. The number of landing of turtles are not the same each year, it can be either decrease or increase. According to Zulkifli and Mazlan (2003), the females of green turtles in East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia took a period of two to three years to return to the same location for nesting. However, in the year 2013, both Geliga and Chagar Hutang showed an increase in number of landings. The landing of Hawksbill turtle decrease from the year of 2010 to 2011 from 7 turtles to 5 and remained consistent until year 2013. 

   

       The population of sea turtles are decreasing due to several factors such as the taking of the meat and eggs, by catch by fishing gear. In addition the degradation of beaches due to human activities and natural impact is also one of the factors (Lwin, n.d). In 2011, according to Zakaria Ismail, the Director state of Terengganu Fisheries Department during that year said that turtle landing was expected to decline in that year due to various problem, including disturbances along the coast. (Bernama Media, 2011).

 

References

 

Zulkifli, S. A., and Mazlan, I. 2003. Tagging Study of Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) on the East Coast of    

           Peninsular Malaysia. Marine Fisheries Resources Development and Management Department, Terengganu.

Lwin, M. M. n.d. Tagging Study on Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) at Thameehla Island, Myanmar. Environment

           and Endangered Aquatic Animals Conservation and Management Unit.