Rasli Ibrahim, 55, said he had received a notice from the Perak fisheries department on April 21, for possessing turtles without a valid licence under the Fisheries (Turtles) (Perak) Rules 2021. He has been told to release all the animals back to their natural habitat.
The Pulau Pangkor turtle lovers and conservation association chairman said he and eight other members of the association were saddened that their efforts to protect the turtle landing site could not be continued.
“Initially, I had applied to the Manjung district office for this abandoned area to be used as a camping area but I saw there was a turtle landing site here and informed the district office.
“I wanted to make it as one of Pulau Pangkor’s attractions so I started learning the process to conserve turtles and make this area a conservation centre and, it managed to attract many tourists,” he told reporters when met at the centre today.
Rasli said that since 2017, a total of 6,800 baby turtles of the agar species have been released in stages and the number of turtle egg nests along the 400m-long beach have also increased. Last year, 37 nests were found.
He said they also received support from the community, as well as marine animal researchers who lauded the turtle conservation methods at the centre.
“I hope the fisheries department and Manjung municipal council will allow me to continue these efforts as I am not doing it for myself but to conserve turtles, as urged by the department to prevent the animal from becoming extinct ,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pangkor assemblyman Zambry Abdul Kadir said the fisheries department, municipal council and the conservation centre operator should find a way to solve the issue and forge a strategic cooperation to ensure that the turtle landing site was not abandoned.
“I do not want to see this area abandoned since the centre has operated well and I hope the department can find the best solution,” he said.
State fisheries department director Zaki Mokri said that in 2016, Rasli was given the permission to collect turtle eggs around Telok Ketapang Beach in Pulau Pangkor, which should be handed over to the department for incubation.
However, Zaki said Rasli failed to do so. Instead, he incubated and reared the baby turtles until the animal reached adulthood before displaying them to the public and tourists, and imposing a fee.
“His activities (owning and exhibiting turtles) are against the Fisheries Act 1985. Turtle management is under the jurisdiction of the state government and on April 1, the state government gazetted the Perak (Turtle) Fisheries Rules 2021.
“Therefore, the department has asked him (Rasli) to release all the turtles into their natural habitat and clean the area because it is a turtle landing site,” he said.