Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) and World-Wide Fund for Nature-Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia) today collaborated to organise a seminar and training on Introduction to Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) to address the turtle-fishing conflict in Terengganu.
MSP is an operational process to ensure an integrated, ecosystem-based approach to the planning, protection, management and sustainable use of marine areas and their resources. Turtle-fishing conflict, on the other hand, refers to direct catch, by-catch, use of illegal fishing gears, and ghost nets by local and foreign fishermen, which could be detrimental to the marine ecosystem.
“WWF-Malaysia has chosen Terengganu and Malacca as key sites as both are believed to have important turtle population that needs protection for their habitat, and requires addressing the turtle-fishing conflict in the area, which is causing the death of adult turtles.
“We are concerned over the increasing deaths of adult turtles in Terengganu in the past few years as well as the coastal development in Melaka, threatening the only hawksbill population in the area,” said Dr Sundari Ramakrishna, conservation director of WWF-Malaysia.
The event targeted relevant government agencies including Department of Environment (DOE) Terengganu, Department of Fisheries (DOF) Terengganu, and Terengganu District Offices.
“We believe the MSP process is important in bringing stakeholders together to address conflicting use of space towards a common sustainable development goal. WWF aims to assist governments and competent organisations to achieve marine protection and sustainable use of marine resources.
“We also aim to assist in working to set enabling conditions for the implementation of ecosystem-based integrated ocean management, including the development and promotion of practical spatial conservation tools.
“By promoting ecosystem-based integrated ocean management, WWF will help ensure that ocean use is managed in a manner that is integrated between sectors, countries and governments in a holistic and adaptive manner,” stressed Dr Ramakrishna.
“This event was a great opportunity for stakeholders to have a common vision for Terengganu and Malacca. Once we have a working model, it can be replicated for other states. UMT is at the forefront of research on turtle conservation and marine science and will continue to find innovative approaches to solve challenges in the management of marine ecosystem, including addressing turtle-fishermen conflict.
“Through the Sea Turtle Research Unit (SEATRU), which is housed under the Institute of Oceanography and Environment (INOS), the turtle research and conservation efforts in UMT have been intensified. Based mainly in the UMT campus and Chagar Hutang, Redang Island, SEATRU is playing an important role to catalyse research to the national and international level.
“Outreach programmes, including those through Volunteer and Marine Awareness Programmes with Laguna Resort, for instance, have also helped alleviate efforts towards turtle research and conservation,” supports Professor Noraieni Mokhtar, vice-chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu.
“With consistent efforts in supporting the MSP process, UMT in conjunction with World Oceans Week (WOW) 2016, is organising a series of sea turtle activities with Laguna Redang Island Resort from May to October. Activities include turtle colouring for children, a hatchling release session, and a day trip to the turtle sanctuary.
“We look forward to continuous partnership with WWF-Malaysia, relevant stakeholders, and in time, local communities,” continued Professor Noraieni.
Developing a blueprint for turtle conservation
Zainal Abidin Hussin, director of the Terengganu State Economic Planning Unit said, “MSP is indeed an important progressive step towards achieving marine protection in Terengganu. Terengganu supports the highest density of green turtle nesting population and the MSP process can help to develop a blueprint for turtle conservation and sustainable financing for marine conservation in Terengganu.
Government funding allocation, site based fees and mechanisms, tapping into international and external grants, getting universities and research institutions to explore existing studies and initiatives, and community involvement are among some of the recommended ways forward for financing mechanisms in Melaka and Terengganu. With the involvement of all relevant agencies, this process can then be emulated by other states in peninsular Malaysia.”
This seminar and training, which was introduced in Sabah, marked the first of a series of MSP events to be held in Peninsular Malaysia. The three-day event started with presentations from experts from UMT, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Fisheries, and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
Speakers covered a range of topics from ocean policy, environmental law and governance, the importance of MSP, to fisheries law and zoning.
The training allowed participants to be actively engaged in discussions and activities on marine resource management, identifying target resources, characterising and managing stakeholder engagement, and assembling the enabling environment for a successful MSP process.
The event introduced the concept of MSP to the relevant stakeholders, provided hands-on training on developing an MSP document and map, and assisted stakeholders to make trade-offs in stakeholders’ interest and balancing decision-making.
