The Terengganu state government will be enforcing a ban on the sales of all types of turtle eggs, starting June 2022.
Based on a report by Sinar Harian, Terengganu Exco for Agriculture, Agro-based Industries and Rural Development, Dr Azman Ibrahim shared that the enforcement will be carried out after the amendments to the Terengganu Turtle Enactment 1951 (Amendment 1987) is tabled at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) this month.
“The enactment amendment process is now in the final stages before it is tabled at the DUN session later. These amendments are more focused on the turtle conservation act, including River Terrapin conservation which was last amended in 1987,”
“God willing, it will be tightened further through the 2021 amendment, which includes amendments on the sale of eggs, increased punishment and fines covering the offence of disturbing and killing turtles,” he said.
The Terengganu turtle enactment previously only emphasized the sales ban on starfish turtles, which is now being seen as irrelevant to the current situation in an effort to conserve the lives of turtles.
“The provisions of the existing enactment only prohibited the sale of starfish turtle eggs. It is seen as unsuitable because starfish turtles have not landed in Terengganu for a long time, they were last seen about seven years ago,”
“So, we will amend to a new enactment that bans the sale of all types of turtle eggs in Terengganu to preserve all species of marine life,” he added.
Monitoring will be carried out on the sale of turtle and River Terrapin eggs.
“Preliminary information will be communicated to traders so that when enforcement is carried out, it does not come as a surprise to them,”
“We are confident that this change is acceptable as most of the sale of eggs is not the main source of income, it is just a side income for traders,” he explained.
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