MITIGATING IMPACT OF TRAWL FISHERY BYCATCH IN SARAWAK, MALAYSIA, BY SUPPORTING POLICY & DECISION-MAKING, TURTLE EXCLUDER DEVICES, AND FISHER COLLABORATION

THIS PROPOSAL SEEKS FUNDING SUPPORT FROM THE MTCA FOR A TWO YEAR PERIOD TO MITIGATE BYCATCH OF ENDANGERED SEA TURTLES IN SHRIMP TRAWL FISHERIES OF SARAWAK (MALAYSIA) THROUGH THE PROVISION OF DATA FROM TIME LAPSE CAMERAS TO SUPPORT POLICY AND DECISION MAKING.

WE WILL INTRODUCE AND PROVIDE TURTLE EXCLUDER DEVICES AND RAISE THE CAPACITY OF FISHERS TO ADAPT TEDS TO SARAWAK SINGLE AND DOUBLE NET VESSELS. WE WILL ALSO DEVELOP ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY IN KEEPING WITH REQUIREMENTS UNDER US PL 609 AND THE US CERTIFICATION SCHEME.

THIS PROJECT BUILDS ON THE SUCCESSES OF THE NATIONAL LEVEL TED PROGRAMME IN MALAYSIA WHICH AS OF 2017 LEGALLY REQUIRES TEDS IN SHRIMP TRAWL VESSELS IN ALL EAST COAST PENINSULAR MALAYSIA STATES.

SARAWAK IS AS LARGE AS ALL OF THE PENINSULAR MALAYSIA STATES COMBINED BUT IS LOCATED ACROSS THE SOUTH CHINA SEA ON THE ISLAND OF BORNEO (EAST MALAYSIA) BUT HAS RECEIVED LITTLE ATTENTION DURING THE NATIONAL TED PROGRAMME.

A STATE WORKSHOP WAS HELD IN 2016 THAT DREW TOGETHER REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE MAJOR FISHING DISTRICTS BUT UNTIL NOW LITTLE PROGRESS WAS MADE TOWARDS WIDESPREAD UPTAKE OF TEDS AT THE STATE LEVEL.

IN OCTOBER 2023 THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES SARAWAK APPROACHED MRF TO EXPAND THE REACH OF OUR WORK AND RUN A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS IN THE STATE WITH A VIEW TOWARDS LEGALLY REQUIRING TEDS IN THE COMING Y