# 040 FDC ......Brunei Turtles - PENYU

Green Turtle / Penyu Kangkam

( Chelonia mydas )

Hawksbill Turtle / Penyu Sisik

( Eretmochelys imbricata )

Olive Ridley Turtle / Penyu Lipas

( Lepidochelys olivacea )

The National Turtle Management and Conservation Program ,

Negara Brunei Darussalam

Introduction :

Throught the world, there has been a decline in the turtle population. The region and Brunei Darussalam are not spared from this threat of the decrease in the numbers.Consequently, various steps and activities are put forward to adress the issue. Marine turtles are protected under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species( CITES ).

Out of the seven species found in the world , only three are known to land and nest in Brunei Darussalam beaches, namely Green Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle and Olive Ridley Turtle.

National Turtle Management and Conservation Program

The programme has the following objectives:

• To manage for the maintenance of marine biodiversity
• To manage for the increase in turtle population

A national Comittee on Turtle Management and Conservation Programme has been formed to implement proposed activities. The Committee is chaired by Director Of Fisheries and its members include representatives from various government agencies and the private sectors.

Various strategies and steps have been planned and some have already been implemented.

• Hatching of turtle eggs : Since the early 1990's , the department of Fisheries has successfully hatched turtles eggs using artificial method. Spurred by the success and at the sametime overall concerned in the declining of turtle population, the department has embarked on various projects to increase the population.Beaches known to be turtle ground are monitored.Turtle eggs found are moved to a safer place near the actual nests where predation will be reduced. The eggs is monitored during the incubation stage. ( usually two months )
• Baby turtles or hatchlings are released to the sea.The Department Staff and volunteers from NGO's and schools have been participating in the released of this hatchlings to the sea.
• The Department of Fisheries has conducted several seminars and talks to various both government and private schools namely Saydina Hussin Secondary School, St' Andrews School, Jerudong International School, Jigsaw School ,Tadika Alif, and Duli Al-Muthadee Billah College.
• The Department has started a project to enlist the public to become TURTLE VOLUNTEERS. The response has been very overwhelming. School children, youths and CONSERVATIONIST have come forward to register themselves.
• The National Committee on Turtle Managemant and Conservation Program has chosen a slogan ' SAYANGI PENYU KITANI ' ( LOVE OUR TURTLES) to inject public awareness.

Text: Courtesy of Department of Fisheries,BRUNEI

Text date : November 2001