The Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Aquaria KLCC today as a sign of agreement for cooperation on the management and conservation of endangered aquatic species such as turtles, marine mammals and corals.
The MOU was officiated by YBrs. Tuan Haji Wan Muhammad Aznan bin Abdullah Deputy Director General of Fisheries (Management) and Managing Director of Aquawalk Group, YBhg. Dato’ Simon Foong and witnessed by YB Dato’ Muhammad Bakhtiar bin Wan Chik, Member of Parliament for Balik Pulau.
At the same event, there was also a pre-launch of the Marine Conservation Centre at Hotel Angsana Telok Bahang and the declaration of Telok Bahang Beach as a nest for spawning turtles. Both efforts are corporate social responsibility (CSR) implemented by Aquawalk Group as well as Hotel Angsana Telok Bahang and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) acting as technical advisors for the preservation and rehabilitation efforts of endangered species especially turtles.
Based on the records from 2019 to 2023, Penang recorded 292 turtle mother landing data and 27,701 eggs were successfully collected and hatched 17,607 turtles. Two species of turtles identified to land around the coast of Penang are turtle agar (Chelonia mydas) and cockroach turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea). The reptile landings are concentrated at Kerachut Beach, Teluk Kampi and Telok Bahang. During 2023, a total of 41,963 visitors from within and outside the country were recorded visiting the Turtle Conservation and Information Centre, DOF.
DOF is always sensitive to the issue of management and conservation of endangered species especially with regard to turtles. DOF carries out turtle management and enforcement activities with reference to the Fisheries Act 1985 and the Fisheries (Turtle and Turtle Egg) Rules or Turtle Enactment under the laws of the state government and always works with the State Government and other stakeholders such as Non-Statutory Bodies (NGOs) to carry out awareness activities to the target group.
