Main image via Facebook + ABC News + Sea Turtle Conservatory
As many of us have been staying home under the MCO and CMCO, most of the Malaysian beaches have been left to their own devices.
All around the world there have been many stories of how Mother Nature is slowly taking back what belongs to her with animals appearing in different places and now, Malaysia has its own stories.
Recently, it was reported that dolphins and turtle eggs have been turning up in Port Dickson!
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The internet has been abuzz since a video of four dolphins swimming in the open waters of Tanjung Tuan, PD was uploaded to Facebook.
While this sighting is definitely exciting to us at home, apparently the phenomen is nothing new to fishermen and the Negeri Sembilan Fisheries Department (NSFD).
According to NSFD director Halimi Abu Hanip, dolphins were usually found around Port Dickson water and are a protected species under the Fisheries Act 1985.
Speaking to Bernama he said, “Local fishermen are aware of this and are not allowed to catch the fish. We hope members of the public do not disturb the animals.”
The MCO has definitely had a good impact on the marine life and environment, said the director.
“It shows that in the absence of recreational or indiscriminate fishing activities and water recreation activities in Port Dickson as well as with fewer people around, these dolphins which often swim far away, will be bolder in approaching the coast,” he said
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“For fishermen, dolphins are a common sight,” said Negeri Sembilan Fishermen’s Association chairman Abu Bakar Dawam. “Of course, when members of the public see them for the first time, they may be surprised.”
“The last time I saw dolphins was along a cargo ship route in Tanjung Tuan waters in December,” he added.
Dolphins are not the only ones who are taking advantage of the empty seas and beaches in Port Dickson. According to recent reports, hundreds of turtle eggs have been found on the PD shores!
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The Negeri Sembilan State Fisheries Office shared that they found 118 ‘Agar’ (Green) turtle eggs and 110 more of unknown species.
The NSFD director believes that there are more eggs that have yet to be discovered on the beaches. The eggs that have been uncovered have been brought to the Ornamental Dish Center in PD to be incubated for conservation.
“Turtles had landed to nest on the beaches in Port Dickson before, but this was scarce as these sea-dwelling reptiles were deterred by the rapid development and bright lights,” said the director.
“Normally the turtles would look for quiet spots around here and we are actively locating them with the help of those who have been given permission to collect the eggs,” he said.
As PD has been void of the hustle and bustle of tourist crowds, the environmental quality has somewhat improved. The peace and quiet that the MCO has created may have prompted the turtles to lay their eggs in the area. March to October has been known to be the turtles’ nesting season.
Should members of the public happen to stumble upon the reptile or its nests, the NSFD director has urged everyone to not disturb them or take away their eggs. Turtles and turtle eggs are protected under the Negeri Sembilan (Turtles and Turtle Eggs) Rules 1976 and the Fisheries Act 1985.
“Inform the state’s Fisheries Department immediately if you stumble upon a nest,” he said.
Tanjung Tuan has been gazetted under the Fisheries (Prohibited Areas) Regulations 1994 and the Fisheries Act 1985, and is the most important turtles habitat in Port Dickson.
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We’re excited and happy to see dolphins and turtles back on our shores and we hope that the public will be able keep the beaches and the environment safe for these animals, even after the CMCO.
In the meantime, keep playing your part by staying safe at home to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and also allow nature to use this time to heal.
Stay home and stay updated with the latest COVID-19 news here: https://en.syok.my/covid-19
Info via Bernama + Bernama