LUMUT, March 7 — The fishing community in Pasir Panjang is living a “nightmare” after the gruesome find of an endangered turtle’s carcass.

It has caused alarm as this is the second carcass found near their homes in less than six months. 

When the first carcass was discovered near Kampung Segari last September, the fishermen buried the remains at the same spot. 

The village is 95km southwest of Ipoh and is part of Pasir Panjang, as is Teluk Senangin.

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The first carcass was that of a Green turtle. 

The villagers found the carcass floating in off Teluk Senangin where Green turtles roam before they come up to the beach to lay eggs. 

Fishermen found a hook in its mouth and a fishing line around its body. 

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“For generations, fishermen have lived together with the turtles along the coast of Teluk Senangin. We have never harmed them with our nets, boats or hooks,” said fisherman Noor Ismady Ahmad Radzuan.

“We know the turtles roam the waters near Teluk Senangin and come to the beach to lay their eggs.”

Noor Ismady, known among his friends as “Otai Manjung”, joined several fishermen and environmental activists to set up a group called Selamatkan Penyu Segari (Save the Segari Turtles).  

It was activated immediately after the first carcass was found.   

He said the fishermen had feared that increased fishing activities, including angling near Teluk Senangin, would pose a danger to the turtles. 

“That fear turned to reality when we found the first carcass. And, now another carcass has been washed ashore,” he said.

The carcass of the second turtle, also of the Green species, was found with its shell badly damaged.

Green turtles and Olive Ridley are endangered species. Both species are smaller than the leatherbacks that frequent Rantau Abang in Terengganu, and have made the west coast of the peninsula their home. 

The Olive Ridley and Green turtles are often seen between March and June in Perak, Penang and Malacca where they come to lay eggs and the highest concentration during such visits is at Teluk Senangin.

“This is turning into a nightmare for the fishermen. It is obvious that indiscriminate fishing activities are the cause behind these deaths,” said Noor Ismady. 

He said many trawlers were seen hauling fish in the gulf, adding that it was illegal to cast trawl nets near the shore.

Noor Ismady said trawlers could only carry out their activities eight nautical miles away from the shore. 

Although the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency had chased the trawlers from the waters and arrested some of the operators, Noor Ismady said it had not deterred them from encroaching into the shallow waters from time to time.

“These are the same boats which we believe caused of the death of the second turtle. The first obviously died at the hands of anglers,” he said.

Perak Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) field officer Meor Razak said trawling and angling must be stopped during the egg-laying season.

He said Selamatkan Penyu Segari, SAM and environmentalists recently recommended to the Fisheries Department that the gulf be listed as a non-fishing zone between March and June. 

“While the trawlers can be dissuaded from coming near the shallow waters, it is the anglers we are worried about,” Meor said.

“They are not bothered when the turtles are caught in their line.

“They just cut the line and let the turtles suffer. They do not care if their reckless attitude causes the turtles to die.”

He did not discount the possibility that more turtles could have died but were never discovered.

“There are fewer turtle landings in Pasir Panjang because of human activity,” he said.

“I believe the turtles can be saved if everyone is made aware of their importance.”