Study On Turtle Population In Feeding Grounds In Semporna

Bernama 25 Dec 09;

SANDAKAN, Dec 25 (Bernama) -- A study to determine the turtle population in feeding ground areas has been conducted at the Tun Sakaran Marine Park and Sipadan Islands in Semporna from Sept 29 until Oct 12 this year.

The study, the first in the country, was conducted by a group of researchers from the Sea Turtle Research Unit (SEATRU), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, led by Dr Juanita Joseph.

Dr Juanita said blood samples of 69 Green turtles and nine Hawksbill turtles were taken for the study, adding that the turtles were marked before they were released.

"The marking of the turtles was done in the feeding ground for long-term observation and monitoring," she told Bernama here.

She said similar studies had been conducted in Australia and the United States of America.

The study was important to aid efforts for turtle conservation, as well as identify feeding grounds which are threatened by fishing activities, she added.

Dr Juanita said the outcome of the study would be presented in a working paper on strategy to address illegal catching of turtles in Malaysian waters and the Indo-Pacific region.

-- BERNAMA