Key Projects

Enabler	Environment
Project	Terengganu Global Marine Turtle Observatory (TgMATO)
Location	Rantau Abang

1. Elevation of Turtle & Marine Ecosystem Centre (TUMEC) to a major global research and conservation facility.
2. Establishment of a world-class field centre (possibly at Rantau Abang).
3. Establishment of turtle sanctuaries and protected beaches.
4. Establishment of turtle sighting and awareness centres.

Project Rationale
Marine turtles are Terengganu’s (and to a lesser extent the east coast’s) heritage and an important icon for its tourism industry. However, landings of all turtle species have been declining at an alarming rate since the 1980s.

To combat the decline in turtle numbers, it is proposed to establish the TgMATO - a major international research and conservation facility dedicated to the conservation of marine turtles. The project would put Terengganu in the global limelight providing a much needed image boost for its tourism industry as well as a boost to human capital by bringing the best marine biologists from throughout the world to be based in Terengganu.