Natuna (ANTARA) - The Natuna District Coastal Resources Management Agency (LPSDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), rescued 119 turtle eggs in Senoa Island from the threat of theft in early September.
The Natuna LPSDP then manually relocated them to a safer place for hatching, said Cherman, a representative of the Natuna LPSDP, in Natuna on Friday.
Cherman emphasized that turtles are protected by Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning the Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Ecosystems.
According to the regulation, he said, those who trade turtles and their products are subject to a five-year prison sentence and a fine of Rp100 million.
"Furthermore, the National Action Plan (RAN) for Turtle Conservation serves as the government's reference for turtle conservation programs, and the country has ratified CITES to regulate international trade," Cherman explained.
Regarding the rescued turtle eggs, Cherman said that his party, elementary school students, and several community members had released 17 hatchlings on Pian Beach in East Bunguran Sub-district on Friday morning.
"So far, 17 have hatched from the eggs we incubated, and we immediately released all of them into the sea," he said.
During the release, Cherman also educated participants about the vital role of turtles in maintaining the balance of the marine ecosystem and the devastating impacts of their extinction.
"The goal of the activity is to educate the younger generation and the community about the importance of turtles for the survival of other creatures in the marine ecosystem," he said.
Cherman emphasized that ensuring the safety and comfort of turtles in the wild is a shared responsibility, as the animals provide tangible benefits to the ecosystem and humans.
It is time for regional regulations to prohibit the circulation of turtle eggs, complete with strict sanctions and social sanctions, to ensure turtle conservation without disregarding local cultural values, he said.
"Natuna does not yet have specific regional regulations governing the use of turtle eggs. This allows people to freely take them without any control," Cherman said.
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Translator: Muhamad Nurman, Cindy Frishanti Octavia