By Nur Faradilla Mohamad
MERSING, Oct 5 (Bernama) -- Proposed regulations for the 1,700 square kilometres dugong sanctuary in Mersing waters are being reviewed by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), as authorities seek to reduce deaths caused by boat strikes.
Johor Fisheries Department director Rosmawati Ghazali said the proposed measures included requiring boats to slow down when passing through the sanctuary to reduce the risk of the mammals being struck by propellers.
“Dugongs need to surface to breathe every two hours. Based on our records, most deaths are caused by boat propellers as vessels pass through the area,” she told Bernama recently after observing the deployment of “cheese block” coral restoration modules off Pulau Tinggi.
She said dugongs could recover from some injuries to the body, but strikes to the neck were often fatal because of major arteries in the area.
“Operators therefore need to slow their boats to a certain speed,” she said.
Rosmawati said one dugong death was reported at Tanjung Leman this year, compared with three last year involving two calves and an adult. The deaths were believed to have been caused by boat propellers or entanglement in fishing nets.
She said the actual number of deaths could be higher as carcasses might drift to remote areas and go unreported.
Rosmawati said Mersing waters were estimated to have about 100 dugongs, based on studies by marine mammal research and conservation group MareCet, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and other parties.
She said the population estimate was based on quadrat counts and sightings, with drones commonly used because dugongs were difficult to spot directly.
Pulau Sibu has extensive seagrass beds that provide an important habitat for dugongs, she said, adding that a dugong was spotted surfacing near the island in August.
Meanwhile, Rosmawati said marine conservation efforts also included a 1,500 square kilometres lobster refugia around Pulau Aur.
Fishing restrictions there include a closed season from December to February, while lobsters with a carapace measuring less than six centimetres and egg-bearing females must be released.
“These are among the measures we are trying to raise awareness about among fishermen in the area,” she said.
-- BERNAMA