KUALA TERENGGANU: The presence of whales in Malaysian waters is an important indicator that the marine ecosystem is healthy and able to support the megafauna.
Fisheries Research Institute officer Muhammad Amirul Siddiq Abdul Rashid said the sighting of a humpback whale in Pulau Redang waters on Saturday (Sept 14) was a chance to document its migration patterns.
"The presence of whales from this species is rare in Malaysia, unlike the Bryde's whale. So, it provides researchers an opportunity to document their migration (and gather) supporting data about the biodiversity and habitats in the area," he said in a recent interview.
ALSO READ: QuickCheck: Was a humpback whale spotted near Pulau Redang?
"So far, we have not identified the factors for its presence in our waters.
"Based on studies of humpback whales around the world, there is a possibility it migrated a little further beyond its habitat in cooler waters such as the Arctic Sea or the Antarctic Sea," he added.
Amirul Siddiq said the whale faces several threats within Malaysia's ocean environment, particularly the risk of getting trapped in shallow waters.
If this happens, the whale may be unable to return to deeper waters, ultimately facing the danger of drowning.
"Plastic pollution and dangerous chemicals can also affect the health of whales and their food sources, while changes in water temperature due to global warming can affect the availability of food, and whales' migration patterns.
ALSO READ: Malaysia leads the way in marine park, turtle conservation within Coral Triangle
"These factors also change important habitats such as the areas where these species socialise," he added.
Regarding measures to mitigate risks facing the animals caused by the fishing community, he said the Fisheries Department had organised education programmes on the importance of preserving marine mammals.
"Fishermen are also offered resources and tools to help reduce the impact of their activities on marine life.
They are given guidelines on responsible fishing practices, preventing bycatch (the unintentional catching of marine animals) and information on habitat hotspots for marine mammals and other endangered species," he said.
Amirul Siddiq said that although humpback whales do not harm humans, any interference can cause a defensive reaction in the animal.
ALSO READ: An ‘alphabet’ in whale songs
He cited Section 27 of the Fisheries Act 1985 which prohibits any form of interference with whales.
"The implication of disturbance is the potential for stress or physical injury. Some species can threaten human safety such as the killer whale which will become aggressive if it feels threatened," he said.
Meanwhile, Marine Ecology and Ecosystem researcher at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) Associate Prof Dr Maizah Mohd Abdullah said UMT is making preparations to strengthen the blue economic framework to ensure the sustainability of the ocean ecosystem.
The framework is compatible with the maritime economic sector, she added.
ALSO READ: The tail that tells the tale of the whale
She hoped the matter will be discussed in the Blue Economy roundtable discussion to be held in Putrajaya soon involving industry players and stakeholders, including government representatives.
"The presence of whales motivates us to work harder (to educate) the community about ocean literacy through the Marine Endangered Species (MES) group, comprising researchers here and from abroad," she said.
She added that there was not enough evidence yet to determine if Pulau Redang waters are any kind of passageway for the species, as this was the first humpback sighting in the area.
Therefore, she said, it is important that the sighting of any marine mammals is reported to the relevant quarters to facilitate data collection.
ALSO READ: White whale spotted near Phi Phi islands, possibly for the first time
This will help determine if migration patterns of endangered species have changed, she added.
"Without complete data, it is difficult for researchers to predict whether this emergence reflects a positive situation or otherwise,” she said.
She also cautioned anyone coming across the mammal to keep a distance of at least 100m as a basic guideline.
"Immediately turn off your boat engine and do not provoke or chase the mammal,” she said. – Bernama
