Practise the ethical conservation efforts
Practise the ethical conservation efforts
Recently, the Fisheries Research Institute (FRI) Rantau Abang (formerly known as Turtle and Marine Ecosystem Centre, TUMEC) organized the mass release of the sea turtle hatchlings that took place in Rantau Abang, Dungun. Once a popular spot for turtle watch back in the 80’s, the event was aimed to raise awareness in which to remind the public to save the sea turtles and to highlight the success of in the management and conservation efforts of the sea turtles. In short, this was a publicity event which also aimed to be included in the Malaysia’s Book of Records.
In any conservation efforts, the priority is always referred to the animal, which in this case are the sea turtles (or more correctly, the green turtle). In Malaysia there has been four species of sea turtle recorded (which are the leatherback, olive-ridley, hawksbill and green), only the green turtle was used for the event.
Hatchlings, lamently known as the baby sea turtles, were released during this event, but there were also older ones that doesn’t fit the description of being a baby. To say the event was truly one of a kind would be untrue as there were other adult green turtles involved.
However, the main drawbacks of this event comes from the methodology of the release of these hatchlings.
The turtle hatchlings were held back for a period of time (3-5 days) after they were hatched. Currently, there are no scientific evidence that would recommend of holding back the hatchlings after they hatched.
Prof. Chan Eng Heng, founder of Turtle Conservation Centre, mentioned that holding the hatchlings back would make them hungry; thus, becoming weaker and consequently easier prey.
People at the event said the turtle hatchlings were released at 5.45pm which means it was not dark.
Hatchlings naturally hatch and start their journey to the sea in the dark, this is too reduce predation. In addition, Dr. Juanita Joseph of Sea Turtle Research Unit (SEATRU) of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu states that the massive release would lead the hatchlings to be the bait in a feeding frenzy.
Taken into considerations, the experts have shown how this mass release can in fact benefit the marine predators of the sea turtle hatchlings (such as sharks and bigger fish), which happens to be around at the time these turtles were released.
The message the event aimed to send out was not educational. The event should have had a key message which is in its self educational, i.e. proper turtle hatchling releasing. There are many resorts who practise bad turtle hatchling management through keeping them and then releasing them at the wrong time of day. This event should have demonstrated to the general public, turtle projects, resorts and the world how to release turtle hatchlings in the proper manner. Instead they have condoned NOT only the 2,300 turtle hatchlings but thousands more as ill informed resorts will follow the FRI lead from this event.
The FRI Rantau Abang may have done a job well done with the event, but they should not have overlooked the ethics written in the protocol by the Department of Fisheries. This event shouldn’t attract the attention of the Malaysian public, but should be a global example of what Malaysia aims to be.
Precisely said, this event has been the “biggest release of green turtles by improper conservation methods through human intervention”. Let that be written in Malaysia’s Book of Records.
Wan Ahmad Azimi Wan Azmin
Co-Founder and Chairman of Help Our Penyu (HOPE)
Recently, the Fisheries Research Institute (FRI) Rantau Abang (formerly known as Turtle and Marine Ecosystem Centre, TUMEC) organized the mass release of the sea turtle hatchlings that took place in Rantau Abang, Dungun. Once a popular spot for turtle watch back in the 80’s, the event was aimed to raise awareness in which to remind the public to save the sea turtles and to highlight the success of in the management and conservation efforts of the sea turtles. In short, this was a publicity event which also aimed to be included in the Malaysia’s Book of Records.
In any conservation efforts, the priority is always referred to the animal, which in this case are the sea turtles (or more correctly, the green turtle). In Malaysia there has been four species of sea turtle recorded (which are the leatherback, olive-ridley, hawksbill and green), only the green turtle was used for the event.
Hatchlings, lamently known as the baby sea turtles, were released during this event, but there were also older ones that doesn’t fit the description of being a baby. To say the event was truly one of a kind would be untrue as there were other adult green turtles involved.
However, the main drawbacks of this event comes from the methodology of the release of these hatchlings.
The turtle hatchlings were held back for a period of time (3-5 days) after they were hatched. Currently, there are no scientific evidence that would recommend of holding back the hatchlings after they hatched.
Prof. Chan Eng Heng, founder of Turtle Conservation Centre, mentioned that holding the hatchlings back would make them hungry; thus, becoming weaker and consequently easier prey.
People at the event said the turtle hatchlings were released at 5.45pm which means it was not dark.
Hatchlings naturally hatch and start their journey to the sea in the dark, this is too reduce predation. In addition, Dr. Juanita Joseph of Sea Turtle Research Unit (SEATRU) of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu states that the massive release would lead the hatchlings to be the bait in a feeding frenzy.
Taken into considerations, the experts have shown how this mass release can in fact benefit the marine predators of the sea turtle hatchlings (such as sharks and bigger fish), which happens to be around at the time these turtles were released.
The message the event aimed to send out was not educational. The event should have had a key message which is in its self educational, i.e. proper turtle hatchling releasing. There are many resorts who practise bad turtle hatchling management through keeping them and then releasing them at the wrong time of day. This event should have demonstrated to the general public, turtle projects, resorts and the world how to release turtle hatchlings in the proper manner. Instead they have condoned NOT only the 2,300 turtle hatchlings but thousands more as ill informed resorts will follow the FRI lead from this event.
The FRI Rantau Abang may have done a job well done with the event, but they should not have overlooked the ethics written in the protocol by the Department of Fisheries. This event shouldn’t attract the attention of the Malaysian public, but should be a global example of what Malaysia aims to be.
Precisely said, this event has been the “biggest release of green turtles by improper conservation methods through human intervention”. Let that be written in Malaysia’s Book of Records.
Wan Ahmad Azimi Wan Azmin
Co-Founder and Chairman of Help Our Penyu (HOPE)
