The Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF) is revising regulations under Section 27 of the Fisheries Act 1985 to broaden protection for marine wildlife, by adding nine marine mammal species to the existing list under the Fisheries (Control of Endangered Species of Fish) Regulations 1999, The Edge Malaysia reports.
In a statement issued on February 19, DOF director-general Adnan Hussain said the amendment is intended to strengthen regulatory oversight, conservation safeguards and enforcement measures against threats such as bycatch and habitat disruption.
The nine species proposed for inclusion are Balaenoptera omurai, Peponocephala electra, Feresa attenuata, Tursiops aduncus, Stenella coeruleoalba, Stenella attenuata, Ziphius cavirostris, Steno bredanensis and Kogia sima. These whales and dolphins have all been recorded in Malaysian waters and require enhanced monitoring to reduce the risk of population decline, he said.
Marking International Marine Mammal Protection Day, Adnan added that the department continues to reinforce its conservation efforts through the development of the National Plan of Action (NPOA) for Dugong. The plan is grounded in the latest scientific research and accompanied by comprehensive updates to the legal framework.
He noted that the dugong (Dugong dugon) serves as an indicator species for the health of coastal marine ecosystems and is closely associated with the sustainability of seagrass meadows, which underpin fisheries productivity, coastal protection and blue carbon storage.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List underscores the need for sustained, integrated conservation strategies at the national level, he said.
According to Adnan, the regulatory revision forms part of a broader strategy to ensure coordinated protection of dugongs and other marine mammals, aligned with Malaysia’s biodiversity agenda and its target to expand marine protected areas by 2030.
“The DOF remains committed to strengthening marine resource governance through science-based management, field monitoring, research and strategic partnerships with relevant stakeholders,” he said.
Beyond reinforcing domestic safeguards, the initiative is also designed to support compliance with international trade requirements, including the United States’ Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
Although Malaysia is not directly bound by the legislation, Adnan explained that countries exporting fisheries products to the US must demonstrate that their fisheries management systems and bycatch mitigation measures are comparable to standards enforced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
He added that the ecosystem-based framework outlined in the NPOA for Dugong will prioritise marine spatial planning, community engagement in coastal areas, mitigation of bycatch risks and the protection of critical habitats, including seagrass beds recognised as part of Malaysia’s blue carbon assets.
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