First it was the pygmy elephants, then recently  the shocking deaths of the 19 green turtles. Prior to the current dead number, another 50 rotting turtles were discovered last year.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is baffled at the number of dead  land and sea creatures that have taken place within these few years.

The deaths have certainly put a question mark on the state’s conservation measures and whether the Sabah Wildlife department has the capacity to prevent further deaths of Sabah’s wildlife heritage.

The macabre find by the Sabah Wildlife, the Sabah Parks rangers together with Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency personnel is a stark reminder of the need for the enforcement authorities to step up patrols in Sabah  waters.

The immediate reaction then to such senseless killing of our marine life is that the enforcement authorities must come down hard on the perpetrators, irrespective whether they are locals or foreigners.

Encroachment of foreign vessels, especially those from neighbouring countries, encroaching into Sabah waters is not a new phenomenon. Regular reports of intrusion and turtle poaching have been reported in the past.

There is certainly room for improvement in the fight against foreign encroachment. Perhaps the penalties for encroachment under the Fisheries Act are inadequate in which case hefty fines of more than a million, long jail terms for the crew and seizure of their vessels may deter foreign vessels from trespassing into Malaysian  waters.  

It is high time the maritime enforcement agencies along with the navy, police, air force, Sabah’s wildlife and the Fisheries department pool their resources to formulate an effective strategy to protect the nation’s marine resources.

At the same time neighbouring Asean member countries should educate their fishing communities against encroachment into our water. Similarly, training should also be given to our fishermen on the necessity to conserve our marine life and resources.

SAM is saddened by the fact that some fishermen have scant regard for the survival of turtles which are endangered species.  Conservation messages should also be conveyed to the public, especially the coastal communities, to create awareness of the need to protect chelonians  from extinction.

Strengthening enforcement is the major thing to prevent our humble turtles from quietly succumbing to a voracious Asian appetite.

SM MOHAMED IDRIS is president, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM).