SEMPORNA: More diving groups have come forward to criticise the one-off turtle protection programme in Mabul waters, with some alleging that the motive was publicity rather than conservation.
The New Straits Times had earlier reported on concerns raised by the Semporna Professional Divers Association (SPDA) over a research team that they believe could have caused decompression sickness to turtles by “shooting them up to the surface using a lift bag”.
SPDA and another non-governmental organisation here known as Green Semporna (GS) said they hoped that the authorities would look into the tagging programme involving tourists, that was held annually during the Mabul Turtle Week here.
“Every time, after the programme, the number of turtles drops drastically for a few weeks.
“We believe it has to do with the tagging.
“We would like to know how this annual activity is able to conserve and increase the number of turtles off Semporna waters?
“This programme, which is in collaboration with a public university, is merely to get profits from selling voluntourism packages,” said SPDA president Abdul Razak Ismail.
He said he had voiced concerns about their methods of tagging turtles, which included handling and forcing the turtles to come out from the water abruptly, posing a serious threat to them.
Both SPDA and GS have received a lot of feedback from angry members of the public with videos showing a turtle dying during tagging, and another one dying with ropes still tied around its shell.
Razak asked whether the incidents, which were caused by untrained volunteers, had been reported to the authorities.
He added that any disturbance to marine life would affect the tourism industry, especially in Mabul, where the turtles were known to be “friendly” to human beings.
“We are concerned that if the activity continues, those turtles will leave this area for good,” he added.
GS spokeperson Adzmin Fatta said the turtles were protected under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 and managed by the Sabah Wildlife Department.
Offenders can be fined not less than RM50,000 and up to RM250,000 and face a maximum five years’ imprisonment.
“Only authorised officers are allowed to touch the turtles, not tourists or members of the public,” Adzmin said.