Unique Project Gives Sea
Turtles New Lease Of Life
SEMATAN, Fri:
Sea Turtles in Sarawak have been given a new lease of life with the implementation of the unique Reef
Balls Project and you can also do your part to protect them.
The project needs the sponsorship of the public, especially private companies, to ensure that the best
possible protection can be given to sea turtles that frequent Sarawak's shores to nest.
The project is a pioneering method in this region and it has proven its effectiveness in less than a year
after the first reef balls were placed around Pulau Talang-Talang Kecil, Pulau Talang-Talang Besar and
Pulau Satang Besar here.
Environment and Public Health Minister Datuk Amar James Wong said from January to August, the
Forestry Department recorded 2,148 nests, 238,324 eggs, 56,155 hatchlings released and 475 turtles
tagged on the three islands.
He said for the whole of last year, there were 911 nests, 82,804 eggs, 48,692 hatchlings released and 272
turtles tagged.
"Compare these figures and you will see some impressive improvements," said Wong after the launch of
the Sarawak Turtle Satellite Tracking Project on Pulau Talang-Talang Besar yesterday.
He expressed hope private companies would support the project.
He said companies like Shell and Petronas which profited from our natural resources should give back
something to nature.
Five out of seven species of living marine turtles exist in Sarawak - the green turtle, hawksbill turtle,
olive ridley, loggerhead and leatherback.
The reef balls are presently the best way to prevent the deaths of turtles trapped in trawler nets.
Because it is placed on the sea bed, fishermen who lower their nets where these reef balls are placed
would get their nets torn.
So far, 500 reef balls have been placed around the islands that were recently designated as the Talang-
Satang National Park.
The project, mooted by Wong, started in December 1997 with the purchase of six moulds from an
American company, Reef Ball Development Group Ltd, to manufacture the reef balls locally.
Reef balls are constructed using a special admixture, micro silica and cement of the same pH as salt
water - this ensures that the reef balls imitate natural reef limestone and remain stable.
