However, thanks to the TED technology, turtles are now excluded from fishing nets but not catches "because the TEDs allow a fisherman's catch to be retained while turtles are allowed to escape back into the open ocean."

The TED is usually an oval frame with vertical bars set at precise spacing which allows shrimp and fish to pass through to the cod end (at the back of the net), while turtles and other large marine fauna are forced out through an opening covered by a net flap.

She was sharing her NGO's experience on Turtle Excluder Device (TEDs) project which was one of the many success stories of GEF-SGP (Global Environment Facility-Small Grants Programme) in Malaysia.

In a nutshell, what started as a national project by the Marine Research Foundation (MRF) to save sea turtles was ultimately adopted by the Malaysian Government as a nationwide programme.

MRF's Turtle Conservation Project is in direct partnership with the fishing community in six Malaysian states, namely Terengganu, Kelantan, Johor, Pahang, Sabah and Sarawak, and together with the (Federal) Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOFM).

Ong, who has a degree in Marine Science, joined Sabah-based MRF in September this year.

She assists the Executive Director of MRF, Dr Nicolas J. Pilcher with the TEDs project.

The Small Grants Programme (SGP) is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

According to Ong, many parts of the world have seen turtle bycatch decrease by 97pc in trawl fishing fleets since adopting this technology.

MRF's TEDs story began in Sabah in 2007. That year, with initial funding from GEF-SGP, the Foundation introduced TEDs in a voluntary manner to Malaysian trawl fisheries through trial programmes and awareness-raising.

That year, Dr Nicolas sought permission from the Director-General of the Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOFM) to initiate a small pilot project using TEDs. Apparently, he feared that time was running out for Sabah's turtles.

So, armed with the initial grant from GEF-SGP, his plan was to tackle the problem by working with fishermen first, long before taking it up with the Government.

Ong said the project started in Sandakan, near to the Turtle Islands Park (where thousands of turtles nest each year), and home to over 1,500 trawlers.

"We sold the idea of trying TEDs to the fishermen for a short period, just to see how they would work on Malaysian boats. MRF has been conducting trials with fishermen in Sandakan and Kudat, and over in Terengganu in Peninsular Malaysia since 2007.

"We are convinced that the reduction of bycatch of marine turtles is a critical step in ensuring their survival in Sabah waters and beyond," she told the seminar participants.

To help improve understanding amongst local fishermen, MRF even raised funds to create a short documentary video using a Malaysian boat and crew, she said.

Come 2008, education workshops were conducted for fishermen and to educate policy-makers. MRF also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Fisheries Department of Sabah on its commitment to render the necessary help.

The following year (2009) saw a second round of funding from the GEF-SGP, enabling TED trials to be expanded to new fishing ports, and integrating the Federal Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOFM).

Said Ong : "The same year, this grant enabled MRF to take six fishermen and fishery officers on a study tour in the US. It was hosted by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

"The objective was to observe and appreciate TEDs first-hand."

Consequently, the combination of trials under the SGP grant, the video and the overseas trip got the project going.

"By 2010, another round of GEF-SGP funding had allowed our Marine Research Foundation to expand the project to a second port in Sabah. During that phase, we deployed GoPro cameras on the nets to prove to fishermen that the flap was indeed closed, and that turtles were being saved nearly every day," Ong related.

The camera footage, she said, was a real eye-opener, and more fishing crews began to buy in to the idea.

"With SGP funding, MRF convened a State-level workshop to spread the word far and wide, and many fishermen who had been part of the programme backed our claims."

However, government officials, who attended the event, remained uncommitted. From MRF's observation, the truth was that TEDs' voluntary adoption process was just not working as well as they would have liked.

Ong added: "It was time-consuming and we could only reach a handful of fishermen willing to try TEDs, which they quickly removed when the trials were over.

"Hence, the government needed to come on board and be the programme driver towards making TEDs to the big leagues."

The Conservation Officer said in June 2012, MRF took four Government officials (policy-makers) over to visit the NMFS where they tested TEDs with live turtles off the coast of Florida.

"This is what we call approaching the TED implementation plan from the bottom up and from the top down."

She continued: "A month following the trip, Dr Nicolas was in Putrajaya when the Director-General of DOFM inquired whether he might be able to go on a similar site visit and see TEDs in operation for himself.

"The timing was just right because Dr Nicolas had a grant application pending with another donor, so he asked whether he could include the overseas trip.

"The donor came through and six months later, Dr Nicolas and the Director-General were on their way to Florida."

In the meantime, Ong said, the DOFM had started to push TEDs on their own in Terengganu.

"In fact, the fishermen were extremely receptive and even came up with a modification that improved their catches and still kept turtles safe. They also used GoPro cameras and documented the safe exclusion of several turtles.

"Of course, this development raised further interest back at the DOFM Headquarters," she pointed out. The first-ever Malaysia TED was produced towards the end of 2012.

While in Florida, Dr Nicolas and the Fisheries Director-General submitted the Malaysia-designed TED to the NMFS for rigorous testing, and it worked like magic, said Ong.

"Every turtle escaped in less than one minute, and the new TED was certified by NMFS for use in fishing fleets worldwide."

That was the turning-point, according to the Conservation Officer. The Director-General immediately instructed his staff to establish a local National Steering Committee (at MRF Project level), and it was tasked with developing a long-term implementation strategy (now approved and operational).

"The Committee has already met twice and the plan is (partially) being implemented by MRF this year (2014) with the aid of a third SGP grant called the Strategic Initiative Grant.

This third SGP grant is a blessing in disguise. Why? Ong said this grant has seen the Malaysian Government dip into its own resources and co-fund the work.

"No question about it as the process becomes embedded in the fabric of DOFM operations. In fact, MRF has been asked to be the technical advisor to the SGP National Steering Committee and also to the Federal Department of Fisheries as the Government embarks on the nationwide programme."

She concluded: "This is a proud moment for us at MRF, seeing the Government take ownership of the TEDs programme and include TEDs in Fisheries legislation.

"It really is a momentous occasion. Malaysia's fleets are not yet all TED-equipped but this is just a matter of time. State by State, and port by port, TEDs will be introduced one boat at a time, and as this happens, the future of Malaysia's turtle population will be secured."