SURVEY OF MARINE TURTLE EGG CONSUMPTION AND TRADE IN MALAYSIA FINAL REPORT MARCH 2009 1 Table of contents 1. Background........................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Marine Turtles in Malaysia ............................................................................................ 5 1.2 Objective and conceptual framework of study .............................................................. 6 1.3 Overview of report and project outputs: ........................................................................ 7 2. Marine Turtle Legislation and Management in Malaysia .................................................... 9 3. Overview of study methodology and survey..................................................................... 12 3.1 Selection of study sites ...............................................................................................12 3.1.1 Study sites: Turtle egg consumers ...................................................................... 12 3.1.2 Study sites: Turtle egg trade routes and source.................................................. 13 3.2 Survey Questionnaires................................................................................................14 3.3 Selection and training of field enumerators................................................................. 14 3.4 Implementation of field surveys, data entry and analysis............................................ 15 4. Consumer profile: Key findings and observations ............................................................ 16 4.1 Marine turtle egg consumer surveys ........................................................................... 16 4.1.1 Socioeconomic profile.........................................................................................16 4.1.2 Consumption patterns and behaviour of marine turtle egg consumers............... 18 4.1.3 Marine turtle egg consumers’ perception on turtle population............................. 20 4.1.4 Source of eggs ....................................................................................................22 4.1.5 Communication avenues and interests in protecting marine turtles.................... 23 4.1.6 Further analysis:Consistent and one-off consumers ........................................... 24 5. Trade routes and profiles of egg collectors and sellers:................................................... 30 5.1 Overview based on newspaper, internet sources and interviews ............................... 30 5.1.1 Southern Philippines - Sabah Route ...................................................................30 5.1.2 West Kalimantan - Sarawak Route ..................................................................... 31 5.1.3 Sabah/Indonesia/Philippines – Terengganu Routes ........................................... 32 5.1.4 Natuna - Malaysia and Natuna - Singapore Routes............................................ 32 5.1.5 Kuala Lumpur - Chow Kit Market ........................................................................ 32 5.2 Survey of Terengganu egg collectors ......................................................................... 33 5.2.1 Profile of egg collectors .......................................................................................33 5.2.2 Characteristics of egg collectors ......................................................................... 34 5.2.3 Markets for turtle eggs......................................................................................... 35 5.2.4 Perception of egg collectors ................................................................................ 36 5.3 Survey of Terengganu egg sellers .............................................................................. 37 5.4 Melaka egg collectors and resort operators ................................................................ 39 5.4.1 Interviews with Melaka egg collectors ................................................................. 40 5.4.2 Interviews with Melaka resort operators.............................................................. 41 6. Key findings and concluding remarks............................................................................... 43 6.1 Marine turtle egg consumers....................................................................................... 43 6.2 Trade routes................................................................................................................ 44 6.3 Education and awareness framework and concluding remarks.................................. 45 2 List of Appendix Appendix 1: Areas allowed for licensed egg collection and details of egg collectors ............. 48 Appendix 2: Survey Questionnaires for Terengganu .............................................................. 51 Questionnaire 1: Household survey questionnaire .............................................................. 51 Questionnaire 2: Egg collectors questionnaire .................................................................... 57 Questionnaire 3: Egg seller survey questionnaire ............................................................... 61 Appendix 3: Survey Questionnaires for Melaka...................................................................... 63 Questionnaire 1: Marine Turtle Egg Collectors Survey, Melaka, 2008 ................................ 63 Questionnaire 2: Resort & Chalet Operators Survey on Sale of Marine Turtle Eggs, 2008.69 Appendix 4: List of chalets and resorts in related nesting areas in Melaka ............................ 70 Reference ............................................................................................................................... 74 List of Figures Figure 1.1: Linkages influencing turtle egg consumption and threats to turtle populations ...... 7 Figure 1.2: Schematic task network.......................................................................................... 8 Figure 6.1: Taxonomy of key target audience for developing turtle related education and awareness campaigns...........................................................................................46 List of Boxes Box 2.1: List of marine turtle related legislation in Malaysia ..................................................... 9 Box 2.2: List of relevant priorities from the National Plan of Action. ....................................... 11 List of Tables Table 3.1: Summary approaches and targeted respondents.................................................. 12 Table 3.2: Study sites in Terengganu and Melaka.................................................................. 14 Table 4.1: Socioeconomic profiles of egg consumers ............................................................ 17 Table 4.2: Consumption patterns and behaviour of turtle egg consumption........................... 18 Table 4.3: Cross tabulation of total eggs bought at one time with gender, age group, education and income group ............................................................................................20 Table 4.4: Consumers’ perception on turtle populations......................................................... 20 Table 4.5: Chi-square tests on turtle population decline with gender, age group & education21 Table 4.6: Response to knowledge of declining populations and increase in price of eggs ... 22 Table 4.7: Sources of eggs .....................................................................................................23 Table 4.8: Communication avenues and interests in conservation initiatives......................... 24 Table 4.9: Suggestions to reduce turtle egg consumption...................................................... 24 Table 4.10: Cross tabulation of respondents that would consume eggs out of curiosity by gender, age group, education and income level............................................................... 25 Table 4.11: Chi-square tests - decision to continue consuming eggs even if aware of its contribution to turtle decline with gender, age group, education and income levels ........ 26 Table 4.12: Chi-square tests – decision to continue consuming eggs even if price doubled with gender, age group, education and income levels ..................................................... 26 Table 4.13: Reasons for egg consumption among consistent consumers ............................. 27 Table 4.14: Source of eggs among consistent consumers ..................................................... 28 3 Table 4.15: Communication avenues and interests in conservation among consistent consumers........................................................................................................................ 29 Table 4.16: Suggestions to reduce turtle egg consumption among consistent consumers .... 29 Table 5.1: Socioeconomic profiles of egg collectors............................................................... 33 Table 5.2: Characteristics of egg collectors and collections ................................................... 35 Table 5.3: Markets for turtle eggs and price ...........................................................................36 Table 5.4: Perception of egg collectors...................................................................................37 Table 5.5: Cross tabulation between interest to change to an alternative job with age group 37 Table 5.6: Types of consumer groups ....................................................................................37