9 Whale & Dolphin Species In Malaysia To Receive Protection Under Fisheries Act Amendment

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Nine marine mammal species found in Malaysia will receive environmental protection under a new Fisheries Act amendment

Department of Fisheries (DOF) director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain said in a statement yesterday, 19 February, that the amendment would extend regulatory practices, protections, and law enforcement against threats to the named species, according to Bernama.

Specifically, the Fisheries (Control of Endangered Species of Fish) Regulations 1999, under Section 27 of the Fisheries Act 1985, is being amended to include the new species.

The nine species of marine mammals being protected consist of whales and dolphins

All of them have been recorded in Malaysian waters, and are as follows:

• Balaenoptera omurai (Omura's whale)
• Peponocephala electra (Melon-headed whale)
• Feresa attenuata (Pygmy killer whale)
• Tursiops aduncus (Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin)
• Stenella coeruleoalba (Striped dolphin)
• Stenella attenuata (Pantropical spotted dolphin)
• Ziphius cavirostris (Cuvier's beaked whale)
• Steno bredanensis (Rough-toothed dolphin)
• Kogia sima (Dwarf sperm whale)

Even though eight of the nine cetacean species are listed as "Least Concern" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List, Adnan said the listed species required additional monitoring to prevent the risk of population decline in Malaysia.

Adnan added the department would also strengthen its commitment to aquatic wildlife conservation through the National Plan of Action (NPOA) for Dugongs

He reiterated that the amendment to the Fisheries Act is part of the DOF's effort to ensure the integrated conservation of dugong (Dugong dugon) as well as the other listed species.

This will be in line with the national biodiversity agenda, and is expected to expand protected marine areas by 2030.

He said the DOF is committed to improving marine resource governance through science-based approaches, monitoring, and research, in addition to strategic collaboration with various stakeholders.