Mokhamad Mukhyi Untiring Effort to Conserve Turtles
Mokhamad Mukhyi, since 2013 has been active in the conservation of the sea turtles for the sustainability of the ocean reptiles in the waters of Banyuwangi, East Java.
By
AMBROSIUS HARTO MANUMOYOSO
·5 minutes read
AMBROSIUS HARTO MANUMOYOSO
Mokhamad Mukhyi
Fishermen in Banyuwangi, East Java, are convinced that turtles are their friends. They understand the important role of these reptiles as an indicator of marine health. For the conservation of turtles, Mokhamad Mukhyi, with the help of other residents of the coastal hamlet of Pantai Rejo, protects the shoreline where turtles come to lay eggs.
The awareness to conserve turtles, especially lekang (olive ridley) turtles, was prompted by a darker side of the life of fishermen. They valued turtles and their young, but not turtle eggs, which are consumed or sold. Some fishermen mistakenly assumed that turtle eggs had special benefits.
“Actually, turtle eggs rot faster, so when they are consumed, they give no benefits or even cause sickness,” said Mukhyi.
Mukhyi is chairman of the Supervisory Community Group (Pokmaswas)/Joint Enterprise Group (KUB) of Pantai Rejo, Pakis, Banyuwangi. Since 2011, they have been actively engaged in turtle conservation. The shoreline Pantai Rejo hamlet is the landing site of lekang turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea).
Mukhyi added that in general, fishermen realized that the changing situation in local waters had posed challenges to their survival and livelihoods. They were aware of the increasing population, so they had to start utilizing their natural resources in a more sustainable way.
From 1989, when Mukhyi arrived and settled in Pantai Rejo, harvests from the sea were no longer as abundant as they had previously been. The number of turtles swimming and coming ashore to lay eggs was decreasing. Pantai Rejo was merely a squalid and unsightly hamlet of traditional fishermen.
At the time, Mukhyi was a working member of the fishpond security unit in Pantai Rejo. Earlier, for five years, the father of two with three grandchildren worked with his older brother in Malang regency.
Life went on as usual until early 2010, when the Banyuwangi regency administration started promoting a tourism program. Pantai Rejo residents understood that improvements in life and the environment could be gained through tourism. A year later, they were aided in restoring the environment by planting casuarina trees, especially cemara udang or beach she-oak (Casuarina equisetifolia).
“We were aided in the procurement of seedlings by residents of Pantai Lombang in Sumenep, Madura Island,” said Mukhyi.
AMBROSIUS HARTO MANUMOYOSO
Mokhamad Mukhyi
The environmental rejuvenation and casuarina planting initiative enhanced the appearance of Pantai Rejo and its chances of developing into a tourist destination. The coastal hamlet was renamed Cemara Beach (Pantai Cemara). Later in 2013, residents became interested in being involved in turtle conservation. Fishermen wanted to maintain their convictions to value and conserve turtles.
“Turtle conservation has thus become the tourism icon of Cemara Beach, up to the present,” Mukhyi said.
Collective effort
Pokmaswas of Pantai Rejo and the regency administration started conserving turtles through various programs, including Clean Friday and Clean Sunday. The aim was to make Pantai Cemara a clean and convenient place. In 2014, 100 turtle eggs were found and later 90 of them hatched. Eighty baby turtles were released in August 2014.
“The success in releasing young turtles has boosted our enthusiasm to remain involved in turtle conservation,” said Mukhyi.
Residents protect a number of locations in Pantai Cemara to allow turtles to land and lay eggs. They watch over and make sure that turtle eggs are not taken and can hatch. Funded by state-owned enterprises, private companies and other institutions, turtle breeding and raising locations were built for their further release.
We hope that decades after their release, some lekang turtles will return to lay eggs here and won’t be extinc.
Mukhyi said without the support of various parties, including state institutions, turtle conservation programs would not be running smoothly. The public also remains enthusiastic due to the attention given to the effort. During the period of 2015-2021, the KUB of Pantai Rejo discovered around 25,000 turtle eggs, 24,000 of which hatched and the young were released.
For the release of young turtles, the KUB of Pantai Rejo raises donations worth Rp 20,000-Rp 25,000 per baby turtle. The funds are used for the continuity of turtle conservation programs such as protection, breeding maintenance and additional breeding equipment.
Despite the donations received, baby turtles must not be raised. They are to be released in Pantai Cemara sea waters so as to swim and surrender to nature for their further survival.
“We hope that decades after their release, some lekang turtles will return to lay eggs here and won’t be extinct,” said Mukhyi.
Out of 1,000 turtles set free, not even five female turtles may survive, mate in nature and return to their place of hatching to lay their own eggs. On one occasion, a female turtle can lay 400-500 eggs from being fertilized by four to five male turtles.
Although no longer new, turtle conservation programs and Pantai Cemara handled by Pokmaswas/KUB of Pantai Rejo have drawn public interest. They have earned several awards.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency granted honor to Pokmaswas for supporting the marine school facilitator supplies for the 2018 disaster risk mitigation movement. Later in 2019, they won the status of champion of Pokmaswas assessment at the regency level organized by the Fishery and Food Office of Banyuwangi regency.
Mukhyi said the continuity and appreciation of programs in Pantai Cemara did not result from his personal role, but rather from the KUB and all residents of Pantai Rejo.
“The progress already achieved by Pokmaswas of Pantai Rejo is the fruit of efforts made by all members and residents, as well as widespread support,” he added.
Mokhamad Mukhyi
Born: Kalibaru, Banyuwangi, 10 October 1965
Education: Senior High School
Wife: Dartin
Children: two
Activities:
- Chairman, Pokmaswas/KUB of Pantai Rejo
- Executive, Conservation Division, Banyuwangi Association of Tourism Activist Groups
Achievements:
- Award from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (2018)
- Champion of Pokmaswas of Banyuwangi (2019)
- Kalpataru Award for Environmental Protection (2020)
