FWD: Sabah preparing to charge fishermen over turtles case

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This article is from The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my)

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http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2004/5/7/nation/7920932 & sec=nation

 

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Friday May 7, 2004

Sabah preparing to charge fishermen over turtles case

 

 

PETALING JAYA: Wildlife and fisheries authorities are still trying to determine

if the 150 turtles, found killed on board a China-registered trawler, were from

Malaysian waters.

 

Sabah Fisheries Department assistant director II Edward Rooney Biusing said his

officers were still checking and putting together the evidence and documents.

 

However, he said the department was preparing to charge the 16 crewmen under

the Fisheries Act.

 

Biusing said that under the Act, the skipper of any foreign vessel encroaching

into Malaysian waters faced a maximum fine of RM1mil while each crew member

faced a fine of RM100,000 in default of a jail term under Section 15 of the Act.

 

He said the Act also had provisions for the courts to confiscate the vessel and

its equipment.

 

On Sunday, 130 carcasses, 30 shells and three live turtles were discovered on a

China-registered trawler near Pulau Mengalum, 20 nautical miles from Kota

Kinabalu, during a joint patrol by the marine police and the Sabah Fisheries

Department. The turtles were of the hawksbill and green species.

 

Meanwhile, Sabah Wildlife Department deputy director Laurentius Ambu said the

department was working with the Fisheries Department on the case.

 

& #147;Together, we are establishing the evidence with the Fisheries Department

before deciding the next course of action. There are steps and procedures to

take before prosecuting, & #148; he added.

 

Under the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, any person found in the

possession of protected animals and animal products listed in Appendix 1 of the

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna

can be fined RM50,000 or jailed five years or both.

 

Malaysian Nature Society president Datuk Dr Salleh Mohd Nor said in a statement

that stricter measures were needed to curtail the encroachment and catching of

endangered species in Malaysian waters.

 

& #147;More measures need to be taken to give priority to our marine

environment. Also, we need to look into tackling the increasing demand for

turtle parts, & #148; he said.

 

Dr Salleh said necessary steps by the authorities were needed to protect

Sabah & #146;s turtle sanctuaries.

 

WWF-Malaysia & #146;s Borneo Programme director Dr Geoffrey Davison said he hoped

that if the fishermen were found guilty, the punishment would reflect the

seriousness of the crime.

 

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