Report of the Second Workshop on The Biology and Conservation of ...

local consumption. In many parts <strong>of</strong> Malaysia,live-caught dolphins are usually released back tosea.stranded dugongs may have been victims <strong>of</strong> boatpropeller strikes in Kota Kinabalu (Jaaman 2000a)and Pasir Gudang (Mansor et al. 2000).Most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fishermen and o<strong>the</strong>r local peopleinterviewed at coastal villages in Sabah andSarawak reported accidental catches <strong>of</strong> marinemammals in gillnets (setnets and trammel nets)(Jaaman et al. 2000a; Jaaman 2002). Preliminaryresults suggested that, on average, at least onemarine mammal (dugong, Irrawaddy dolphin orfinless porpoise) is caught per year per villagesurveyed. However, <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> reportedcatches has always been considered to be manyfewer than <strong>the</strong> actual number (Jaaman 2002).Some Melanau and Melayu fishermen in Sarawakbring accidentally caught dolphins and finlessporpoises to shore for family consumption (Jaamanet al. 2000a) . Some fishermen in Kuching havereported selling dolphin meat for RM2 to RM6 perkilogram, in secrecy, to local buyers.O<strong>the</strong>r causes <strong>of</strong> marine mammal mortality are <strong>the</strong>use <strong>of</strong> dynamite to catch fish in Sabah and intensenavigation in coastal waters (Jaaman 2000a).Although enforcement efforts to curb dynamitefishing and <strong>the</strong> selling <strong>of</strong> materials to producedynamite have increased significantly in recentyears, this destructive fishing technique is stillrampant, mostly practiced by illegal immigrantsin less patrolled areas.The increasing popularity <strong>of</strong> leisure motorboatsand <strong>the</strong> heavy use <strong>of</strong> harbors also threatendugongs and inshore cetaceans. Dugongs anddolphins have been observed in <strong>the</strong> harbors atTawau, Sandakan, Kota Kinabalu, Labuan, Tg.Manis, Muara Tebas, Pasir Gudang, Kelang andPenang. In addition to <strong>the</strong> risk <strong>of</strong> collision, intensenavigation is likely to affect dugong behavior,forcing <strong>the</strong>m to leave busy areas or modifying<strong>the</strong>ir feeding habits. There is evidence that someLegal status and present managementarrangementsAll marine mammals are protected in Malaysianwaters, and Federal laws apply within <strong>the</strong> 200nmiEEZ. Federal legislation concerning marinemammals includes <strong>the</strong> Wildlife Protection Act 1972and Fisheries Act 1985 (Part VI - Aquatic Mammalsin Malaysian EEZ), toge<strong>the</strong>r with FisheriesRegulations 1999 (Control <strong>of</strong> Endangered Species<strong>of</strong> Fish). Related State laws reflect <strong>the</strong> federallegislation and include specific regulations formanagement <strong>of</strong> wildlife within State jurisdiction(Sarawak Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998 andSabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997).In general, <strong>the</strong>se laws and regulations prohibitany person from fishing, catching, disturbing,harassing, taking, killing, possessing, selling,buying, transporting, consuming, exporting orimporting any marine mammal that is found inMalaysia. In addition to <strong>the</strong> police and armedforces that have <strong>the</strong> authority to enforce all lawsand regulations in Malaysia, <strong>the</strong> departmentslisted below are given <strong>the</strong> main responsibility tomanage and conserve all marine mammals inMalaysia.1) Department <strong>of</strong> Fisheries Malaysia (in riversand territorial waters <strong>of</strong> Peninsular Malaysia andFederal Territory <strong>of</strong> Labuan, and <strong>the</strong> whole EEZ).2) Sarawak Forest Department (in rivers andterritorial waters <strong>of</strong> Sarawak).3) Department <strong>of</strong> Wildlife Sabah (in rivers andterritorial waters <strong>of</strong> Sabah).In collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah(UMS), <strong>the</strong> responsible departments have been<strong>Second</strong> <strong>Workshop</strong> on <strong>the</strong> Biology and Conservation <strong>of</strong> Small Cetaceans and Dugongs <strong>of</strong> SE Asia 49