Two Green Sea Turtles Found Dead in Terengganu Beaches
KUALA TERENGGANU: Two green sea turtles were discovered dead at Pantai Batu Burok and Pantai Seberang Takir in Kuala Nerus. Both turtles were estimated to be about 20 years old, measuring approximately 1.3 meters long and 0.65 meters wide, with a weight of 40 to 50 kg. They are believed to be males, according to Terengganu Fisheries Department director Ruzaidi Mamat.
Cause of Death and Burial
The turtles are thought to have drowned after becoming trapped in trawling nets. Each carcass was buried near the location where it was found. These deaths bring the total number of green sea turtle fatalities in January to five, including cases at Pantai Penunjuk in Kemaman on Jan 3, Chendering Port on Jan 12, and a baby turtle at Pulau Kerengga, likely due to plastic ingestion.
Conservation Measures
Ruzaidi urged all trawl operators to install turtle excluder devices (TEDs) on their nets, as required by the Malaysian Fisheries Department. He also called on the public to avoid discarding plastic waste along coastal areas, as turtles can ingest debris, which poses a severe threat to their survival.
Public Awareness and Reporting
In 2024, the department recorded 51 turtle deaths, mostly involving green sea turtles. Ruzaidi warned that criminal acts may also contribute to turtle mortality, citing a previous case of a turtle carcass with a shell violently split open. He encouraged the public to immediately report live or dead turtles to the 24-hour Fishcom hotline at 03-8888 5019 or 03-8870 4058.
