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Turtle Eggs Going Cheap

Posted on: Sunday, 5 March 2006, 21:00 CST

By Julia Chan; Jaswinder Kaur

SANDAKAN, Fri. - Turtle eggs are still widely available at markets here although the reptile is listed as a totally protected species.

To add insult to injury, the eggs cost as little as 50 sen each, with the price depending on quantity.

At a wet market in this east coast town, right under the noses of enforcement authorities, sellers approach customers and whisper that turtle eggs were available and then negotiate the price.

The seller would then reach into a nondescript black plastic bag containing hundreds of turtle eggs, believed to be brought in daily from islands in the Philippines where turtle nests are abundant.

The business has been going on for years, with an occasional run- in with enforcement officials. By and large, though, the trade continues without much trouble.

"Everyone knows where to get them in Sandakan and have regular suppliers," said a hotel employee.

The two species found in Sabah waters are the Green turtle and the Hawksbill turtle, both totally protected reptiles under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.

Both species are listed under Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). Appendix 1 contains species that are the most endangered among CITES listed animals and plants.

Under the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, anyone found in possession of totally protected animals or their products can be fined up to RM50,000 or five years jail or both.

Sabah Wildlife Department deputy director Laurentius Ambu said turtle eggs sold at the Sandakan market were from the Philippines, with most of the supply probably coming from Baguan island, a 30- minute boat ride away.

He said in most cases, the marine police intercept boats ferrying turtle eggs but some do slip through.

"We are working with the Sandakan Municipal Council to make sure turtle eggs are not sold at the market or other locations. Possession of turtle eggs is an offence," he said.

He said laws in the Philippines and Indonesia allowed locals to collect a portion of turtle eggs for sale and consumption. This was probably why they were available in Sabah.

The State, through Sabah Parks, is part of a tripartite conservation and management agreement with the Philippines and Indonesia called the Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area (TIHPA), encompassing islands where turtles nest.

TIHPA, the first of its kind in the world, addresses four crucial areas for turtle conservation including a proper management plan, joint research and sustainable financing.

Source: New Straits Times

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