The Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF) is moving to strengthen marine conservation efforts by proposing amendments to include nine additional marine mammal species under the Fisheries (Control of Endangered Species of Fish) Regulations 1999.
Director-General Datuk Adnan Hussain said the revision is aimed at enhancing legal protection and enforcement measures, particularly in addressing threats such as bycatch and habitat disruption in Malaysian waters.
The species proposed for listing are Balaenoptera omurai, Peponocephala electra, Feresa attenuata, Tursiops aduncus, Stenella coeruleoalba, Stenella attenuata, Ziphius cavirostris, Steno bredanensis, and Kogia sima.
All nine species have been recorded in Malaysian waters and are considered in need of closer monitoring to prevent further population decline.
Broader Conservation Strategy
The proposed amendment coincides with International Marine Mammal Protection Day and forms part of a wider conservation roadmap. Central to this is the development of a National Plan of Action (NPOA) for the dugong, guided by the latest scientific research.
Adnan noted that the dugong (Dugong dugon) serves as an indicator species for the health of coastal marine ecosystems, particularly seagrass habitats that underpin fisheries sustainability and blue carbon storage.
The expanded regulatory framework is intended to ensure a comprehensive approach to conserving dugongs and other marine mammals, while advancing Malaysia’s biodiversity commitments and its target to increase marine protected areas by 2030.
Aligning with International Standards
The initiative also reinforces Malaysia’s compliance with global trade requirements, including standards comparable to those set under the US Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Although Malaysian fisheries are not directly governed by US law, export markets require fisheries management systems to demonstrate equivalent safeguards against bycatch.
Adnan emphasised that the forthcoming ecosystem-based NPOA for dugongs will prioritise marine spatial planning, mitigation of bycatch risks, and the protection of critical habitats such as seagrass meadows, which are recognised as vital national blue carbon assets.
He reaffirmed DOF’s commitment to science-driven governance and collaboration with stakeholders to ensure sustainable management of marine resources for future generations.
