Terengganu: The Terengganu government has urged tourism operators and business owners along the Rantau Abang coastline to reduce lighting in the area to avoid disturbing leatherback turtles expected to come ashore during the current nesting season.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, State Tourism, Culture, Environment and Climate Change Committee chairman Datuk Razali Idris said the reappearance of a leatherback turtle at Pasir Putih Beach, Marang, a few days ago had renewed hope for the state's conservation efforts and tourism sector. He emphasized that based on the experience and traditional knowledge of local residents, the critically endangered species, which is the world's largest turtle, typically comes ashore at the same location three times during a nesting season to lay its eggs.

Datuk Razali highlighted his recent visit to the turtle hatchery in Rantau Abang, where he observed the situation and advised tourism operators and residents to manage lighting and scale back activities during the nesting season along the Rantau Abang coastline. As Pasir Putih Beach falls within this stretch, he warned that there are two more occasions before the turtle nesting season ends in November when these turtles are expected to return.

He also emphasized the importance of reminding fishermen to exercise caution during fishing activities to prevent turtle deaths caused by entanglement in fishing nets. Furthermore, he called for intensified efforts to maintain beach cleanliness and environmental sustainability to encourage leatherback turtles to return to Rantau Abang and revitalise the area as a key tourism attraction.

Datuk Razali recalled that in the 1980s, Rantau Abang was renowned as a nesting site for leatherback turtles. However, human activities such as festivals, excessive lighting, and even climbing onto the turtles' backs had driven the animals to the brink of extinction. With the renewed opportunity presented by the recent turtle sighting, he stressed the need to properly safeguard the area and restore the vibrancy of Rantau Abang, but with strict controls and a more environmentally friendly approach.