KOTA KINABALU: More than 130 endangered sea turtles and 30 turtle shells were seized from a China-registered trawler that had encroached into Malaysia’s rich Mengalum waters, 20 nautical miles from here. 

Most of the sea turtles, believed to be of the Hawksbill and Greenback species, were found dead among the catch of the Chinese fishermen when a marine police PZ patrol boat with 30 personnel intercepted the boat after a short chase at 2pm on Sunday. 

Kota Kinabalu marine police commanding officer Deputy Supt Paul Khiu Khon Chiang said the 40-year-old skipper and 15 members of his crew, aged between 16 and 48, had been detained to facilitate investigations by the Sabah Fisheries Department.  

Confiscated: DSP Khiu (middle) and his officers inspecting the dead turtles in Kota Kinabalu

All are reported to be Chinese nationals. 

Deputy Supt Khiu said police believed foreign fishing boats had been slipping into Mengalum waters on several occasions to catch sea turtles and this seizure was the largest involving these turtles in Sabah. 

“We believe that the fishermen had been in our waters for about two days and were targeting the sea turtles found in abundance in the Mengalum area,” he said, adding that the crew left Hainan, China, two weeks ago. 

A total of 130 dead turtles and three live ones as well as 30 turtle shells were recovered from the trawler. 

It was learnt that the turtles could be preserved by stuffing or taxidermy and sold in the open market for a high price. 

State Fisheries Department enforcement and preventive chief Sapli Mulok said investigations were centred on the Fisheries Act. 

The skipper of any foreign vessel encroaching into Malaysian waters, he said, faced a maximum fine of RM1mil while each crew member faced one of RM100,000 in default of a jail term under Section 15 of the Act. 

Sapli said the department would also look into the Act for action to be taken for offences related to the catching of endangered species, adding that such offences would also be discussed with the state Wildlife Department. 

The skipper and the crew would be brought to court tomorrow for a remand order to facilitate further investigations into their activities.