100,000 reef balls mulled — Director
September 26, 2010, Sunday
KUCHING: The Forest Department is looking at the possibility of deploying up to 100,000 reef balls in the state’s waters in its long term conservation programme for turtles and other marine species.
PROTECTING THE TURTLES: Len (tenth left) gives the thumbs-up sign as he helps to guide the deployment of reef balls at yesterday’s symbolic planting ceremony.
Since its implementation in 1998, the department’s reef ball planting project saw up to 2,740 units planted randomly throughout the state’s waters. Records from the Talang-Satang National Park showed that the mortality rate of turtles has dropped significantly from an average of 100 per year (before 1998) to an average of only 20 in the past 12 years.
Forest director Datu Len Talif Saleh said the 80 per cent drop showed that the programme was very effective and had prompted the department to consider implementing a bigger scale project statewide.
Each costing an average of RM2,000 to build and about RM300 to deploy, more than half a million ringgit have been spent on the project which was funded by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
“It’s a long shot, but it can be done. In fact, it must be realised. Part of Sarawak Forestry’s turtle conservation programme is to raise awareness among the public. The most important thing now is to get the public to be heavily involved as co-operation of the community is vital to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the conservation plan and activities.
“In addition, we hope that other bodies such as private sectors, government organisations and NGOs would increase participation and provide sponsorship. When every sector co-operates, our long term target might not be impossible,” said Len, who is also deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Planning and Resource Management, after launching the ‘Importance of Reef Balls and Marine Life Conservation’ community awareness programme at Kampung Pulau Salak, Santubong.
The awareness programme yesterday was also held in connection with the deployment of 100 reef ball units around the Talang-Satang National Park.
Len Talif, who is also managing director and chief executive officer of Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), said that with increasing deployment of the reef ball units, not only would the turtles’ chances for survival improve; other aquatic life would benefit as well, thus creating higher yield for fishermen.
He also stressed that with the advancement of technology, the department would be able to collect more data and information for more effective research and planning.
The reef ball planting programme is the first method ever used in the world for the conservation and rehabilitation of sea turtles.
These precious marine animals are protected under the Turtle Trust Ordinance 1957; the Land Code 1958; the Turtle Protections Rules 1962 and the Fisheries Prohibited Areas under Section 61 of Fisheries Act 1985.
