Scientists today called for more funding to protect the dwindling sea turtle populations in Indonesia, Malaysia and Pacific island nations.

The number of nesting leatherback turtles in the Pacific has plummeted to 5,000 from an estimated 91,000 in 1980, the Hawaii-based Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council and the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said in a statement.

The two groups have called a gathering of experts for next week to develop a long-term conservation plan for critically endangered leatherback sea turtles in the Asia Pacific.

At least 40 conservationists, scientists and officials from the Asian Development Bank will gather in Malaysia's eastern Terengganu state for four days starting July 17 to develop a conservation plan.

Successful conservation requires long-term commitments and dedication by government and scientists, "much of which is dependent upon adequate financial resources," the statement said.

"This is a critical time for these endangered species," said Peter Dutton, leader of NOAA's marine turtle research programme.

"Nesting beach conservation is one of the most important activities that can be undertaken to conserve and recover depleted turtle populations," he said.

Protecting female turtles

But Dutton said that without guaranteed long-term funding, "we face the very real prospect of losing this initial positive momentum."

To date, funding has been ephemeral, dependent largely on the US or on donations, the statement said.

Leatherbacks are the largest turtles in the world. In the 1960s they frequently nested in Terengganu, but now the sighting of even one is rare.

The turtles were a big draw for tourists who came to the state to watch the egg-laying as well as the emergence of hatchlings.

Turtles are hunted in Malaysia for their meat and shells, but many get entangled in fishing nets in open seas and die.

The World Conservation Union lists the hawksbill turtle and the leatherback turtle as critically endangered.

Dutton said there was also a need to focus on protecting female turtles and nesting beaches in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Malaysia.