Humpback whale’s presence in Malaysia a sign of healthy marine ecosystem, says researcher

The sighting of a humpback whale in Pulau Redang waters on Sept 14 is an important indicator that Malaysia’s marine ecosystem is healthy and able to support the megafauna, a researcher said.

The presence of the rare humpback species, unlike the more common Bryde’s whale, gives researchers the chance to document the animal’s migration patterns, Mr Muhammad Amirul Siddiq Abdul Rashid, a research officer at the Fisheries Research Institute, told Malaysian news outlet Bernama.

It also provides supporting data about the biodiversity and habitats in the area, he added.

The factors for its sighting in Malaysia have not yet been identified. But Mr Amirul Siddiq said “based on the (behaviour of) humpback whale species around the world, there is a possibility that it migrates a little farther than the usual distance from its original habitat in cold waters such as the Arctic Sea or the Antarctic Sea”.

Among the threats the whale faces in Malaysia’s seas is the particular risk of getting trapped in shallow waters, he added. If it is unable to return to deeper waters, it might drown.

The whale could also experience dangers posed by the fishing community. To mitigate these risks, the Department of Fisheries has education and training programmes to share about the the importance of preserving marine mammals.

Mr Amirul Siddiq said: “The fishermen are also offered resources and tools to help reduce the impact of fishing activities on marine life.

They are provided guidelines on responsible fishing practices (and) preventing bycatch (marine life caught unintentionally during fishing), and information on habitat hotspots for marine mammal species and other endangered animals.”

Whales do not harm humans but any interference can trigger their defensive reactions, Mr Amirul Siddiq added.

Any form of interference with whales is prohibited by Malaysian law.

Associate Professor Maizah Mohd Abdullah, a marine ecology and ecosystem researcher at the Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, said there was not enough evidence to prove the waters of Pulau Redang are a passageway for the humpack species as Sept 14’s sighting was the first in the area.

It is important to report any sighting of the humpback whale or any marine mammal species to relevant parties to facilitate data collection on the migration patterns of endangered marine life.

“Without complete data, it is difficult for researchers to predict whether this emergence reflects a positive situation or otherwise,” Dr Maizah said.

She cautioned anyone who comes across the whale to keep a distance of at least 100m from it.

“Immediately turn off the boat engine and do not provoke or chase the mammal,” she said.