Kota Kinabalu: A two-day conference between Sabah and the Philippines relating to the Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area (TIHPA) is being held for the first time ever, here, since the two countries joined forces to protect the endangered reptile in 1996.
The TIHPA region consists of nine islands that exceed the international treaty limits separating Malaysia and the Philippines, with the most notable being Malaysia’s Selingan Island and the Taganak and Great Santa Cruz Islands in the Philippines.
Three of the Malaysian islands are Sabah’s, namely Selingaan Island, Bakkungan Kechil Island and Gulisaan Island located in the waters of Sandakan. These islands also form the Turtle Island Park.
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said TIHPA is one of the world’s most critical nesting grounds for endangered marine turtles.
SPONSORED CONTENT Over 20 units booked at The Horizon’s grand launch Kota Kinabalu: The grand launch of The Horizon at Damai saw a good response with more than 20 condominium units booked, Sunday. Read more “This region also supports several other flagship species of conservation concern, such as fishes, marine invertebrates as well as marine mammals.
“Since the inception of this transboundary collaboration, there have been many significant achievements.
“On the Malaysia side, specifically in the Turtle Islands Park of Sabah, about 21,930,308 baby turtles have been released back to the sea from 1979 until March 2023.
“I am very sure that efforts undertaken by the Philippines side also yield encouraging results,” she said in her virtual officiating speech at a hotel here.
She hoped for continuous discussions among the neighbouring countries to improve the turtle management system supported by new scientific findings, establishment of a data bank, climate effects and adoption of revolutionary technologies.
Sabah Parks Board of Trustees Director Maklarin Lakim said the number of turtles fluctuates but is confident that the population is still healthy.
“We have a situation in Turtle Island…the Hawksbill turtles seem to prefer Gulisaan Island, but it is badly eroded. It’s now more than half the size of what it was 30 years ago.
“But since we are combining efforts with Philippine islands, there should be no problem despite it being in the same area although in a different country.
“On our Malaysian side, I believe we have enough enforcement involving multiple agencies in breaking the sale of turtle eggs and poaching or at least mitigate these impacts,” he said.
The Philippine delegation to Sabah was led by Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Akmad A. Brahim.
He said the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Region 9) turned in six of the islands which conservation efforts are now overseen by Director II of Republic of the Philippines Biodiversity, Ecosystems, Research and Development Services, Mohamad Ali R. Dimaren.
Akmad did not deny claims of turtle meat smuggling from the Philippines into Sabah, saying it is a serious threat but the Philippine Local Government Unit “is doing all means to stop it from happening”.
He said the maximum penalty for selling turtle eggs in the Philippines is 5 million pesos (RM419,000) depending on number of eggs and up to five years’ imprisonment.
In Malaysia, Sabah Wildlife Department Director Augustine Tuuga said, the offence falls under Section 41(1) of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 with penalty being a fine of RM50,000 to RM250,000 and a jail term of between a year and five years, upon conviction.
Eight papers from representatives of both countries will be presented in the conference involving 158 participants, both physical and online while gathered information will be discussed during the 14th Joint Management Committee meeting on Tuesday (today).
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