KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 (AFP) - Malaysia has fitted turtles with satellite transmitters as part of conservation efforts in response to fears their populations are declining, reports said Sunday.

Two green turtles, which are a "threatened" species, had transmitters fixed to their shells before being released from the Ma'daerah turtle sanctuary in the northeastern state of Terengganu, the New Straits Times said.

The signals will be captured by a satellite operated by the American National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the data will be plotted by its ground station in France, it said.

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"With the satellite link, we will know the turtles' movements before they return to nest at the Ma'daerah Turtle Sanctuary here," said Turtle and Marine Ecosystem Centre director Kamarruddin Ibrahim.

"And we will also know where they head to after the nesting season," he was quoted as saying by the Star daily.

Once the turtles' feeding grounds are identified through the tracking devices, authorities could then declare them off-limits to fishing, he said.

"We can also alert other nations and urge them to introduce measures to protect it if the feeding grounds are found in their territories," he added.

Kamarruddin said the tracking will last until the batteries expire in six months time, and two more turtles are expected to be fitted with transmitters this year.

Conservationists have warned of a steady decline in turtle landings in Terengganu, home to Malaysia's famous turtle nesting beaches.

Source: Catcha.com.my

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