PUTRAJAYA — Malaysia’s Department of Fisheries (DOF) announced plans Friday to add nine marine mammal species to its official protection list under updated regulations.

Director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain said the changes to the Fisheries (Control of Endangered Species of Fish) Regulations 1999 will bolster enforcement against bycatch and habitat disturbances. The species include Balaenoptera omurai, Peponocephala electra, Feresa attenuata, Tursiops aduncus, Stenella coeruleoalba, Stenella attenuata, Ziphius cavirostris, Steno bredanensis and Kogia sima. All have been recorded in Malaysian waters and face risks of population decline without stronger safeguards.

Adnan made the announcement on International Marine Mammal Protection Day. It ties into a wider conservation push, including a National Plan of Action (NPOA) for the dugong, or Dugong dugon.

"Dugong is an indicator species for the health of coastal marine ecosystems," Adnan said. He noted its ties to seagrass beds that sustain fisheries and store blue carbon.

The DOF aims to expand marine protected areas by 2030 as part of national biodiversity targets. Adnan stressed science-based governance and partnerships with stakeholders.

The effort also helps Malaysian fisheries meet international standards, such as those under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act. Exporters to the U.S. must show bycatch controls comparable to American rules, even if not directly bound by the law.

"Countries exporting to the U.S. must ensure their management systems align with U.S. protection standards," Adnan explained.

The dugong NPOA will emphasize marine spatial planning, community involvement and bycatch reduction. It targets seagrass habitats as key blue carbon assets.

DOF officials plan to roll out the amendments soon. They expect the listings to aid monitoring and prevent further declines in these populations.

Malaysian waters host diverse marine life, but threats from fishing and development persist. Past records show dolphins and whales entangled in nets or displaced by coastal works.

Conservation groups welcomed the step. They called for quick implementation and more funding for patrols.

Adnan reiterated the department’s commitment. "The DOF remains dedicated to marine resource governance through science-based approaches," he said.