The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Rescues Green Turtles Caught In Trawls In Tarakan

Photo via Ministry of KKP

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) managed to rescue three turtles that were accidentally trapped in a trawl net around Tanjung Pasir waters, Tarakan, North Kalimantan, last January 14.

Head of the Pontianak Coastal Resources Management Center (BPSPL) Andry Indryasworo Sukmoputro explained that the first 3 turtles were found accidentally entangled in trawl nets by fishermen. His party immediately dispatched the Wilker Tarakan Quick Response Team to move to the turtle shelter location in Selumit Pantai Village, Central Tarakan District, Tarakan City.

From the results of the identification and measurement of turtles by the Rapid Response Team, it is known that the type of turtle is a green turtle (Chelonia mydas) with a shell length of 9.5 cm-10 cm, shell width 8.8 cm-9.5 cm, front flipper 6 cm, the rear flipper is 3 cm and weighs 0.095 grams-0.135 grams.

The condition of the turtle is healthy and active so that it can be released into the wild. After that, the Green Turtle Release Minutes were signed by the parties involved.

"BPSPL Pontianak together with Tarakan Directorate General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (PSDKP) Station and Regional Conservation Section I of the East Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) Wilker Tarakan released the turtle in the waters of Amal Lama Beach, East Tarakan District, Tarakan City at coordinates: 3°15'46.20" North Latitude - 117°39 '16.06" east longitude which is directly opposite the Sulawesi Sea on Saturday (15/1/2022)," Andry concluded, quoted from the ministry's website, Friday, January 21.

Meanwhile, acting Director-General of Marine Spatial Management Pamuji Lestari in Jakarta explained that all types of turtles have been fully protected by the government through Government Regulation Number 7 of 1999 concerning Preservation of Plant and Animal Species.

"The turtle's status is included in the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Therefore, protection measures are needed in accordance with Government Regulation Number 60 of 2007 concerning Conservation of Fish Resources and Circular of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Number 526 of 2015 concerning Implementation of Protection of Turtles, Eggs, Body Parts, and/or Their Derivative Products. I remind and invite to protect and conserve turtles together. Stop hunting turtles and their derivative products," said Tari.

Tari also added, as a biota whose status is fully protected by the government, maximum efforts are needed in conservation and preservation activities as well as synergies between agencies in quick response activities so that more marine biota can be saved.

In line with the policy of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, the management strategy of 20 marine biota targeted by the KKP, including turtles, is carried out synergistically through the National Action Plan (RAN) for Turtle Conservation to protect and preserve turtles as rare ancient marine biota of which there are only 7 species in this world.