There are 3 sanctuaries in Terengganu, namely:
- Sungai Pelong, Setiu Mahseer Sanctuary
- Sungai Loh, Dungun Fisheries Biodersity Park
- Kuala Sepetang, Kenyir, Hulu Terengganu Mahseer Sanctuary
The Sungai Pelong Mahseer Sanctuary is located in the Kampung Pelong Mahseer Conservation Tourism Park created by the Pelong Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) and the local community. This effort has involved several government agencies such as the Department of Fisheries Terengganu, Department of Fisheries District of Setiu and Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS) Terengganu. The park has been open to the public since 2011. This sanctuary was created specifically to care for and conserve native river fish species, especially the Mahseer species that are abundant in this area.
This sanctuary can be accessed by land road from Sungai Tong road to Kampung Seri Kenangan, Setiu. Currently, the Sungai Pelong Jetty is being built near the sanctuary to make it easier for people to visit here. There are many facilities available in this area such as toilets, car parking areas, mosques, eateries and others. Visitors are allowed to feed the fish and take pictures. The Mahseer preserved here are tame and will surround humans when fed. Visitors are also allowed to have picnics nearby.
All visitors are strictly PROHIBITED from fishing or catching conserved fish, throwing rubbish in the tourist park area as well as damaging any facilities provided. Visitors are advised to maintain safety during their stay and are encouraged to bring change of clothing. For visitors who want to spend the night, you can stay at homestays near Sungai Tong, Setiu or homestay Kampung Seri Kenangan. Other places of interest near this sanctuary are the Nucleus Orchard, Lata Payung and Lata Ulu Kasar.
The park was established in 2008 as one of the areas for the preservation and conservation of fisheries resources and the veriety of Flora and Fauna Biodiversity. It is administered by the Department of Fisheries Terengganu using allocations from the state government. The Fish Sanctuary in this park was created to care for and conserve native fish in the waters of Sungai Loh, especially the Mahseer species.
The Sungai Loh Fisheries Biodiversity Park area is divided into 3 zones, namely Red, Yellow and Green. Permission for the activity is as follows:
- Red Zone – no fishing activities are allowed and is the main depth of the Biodiversity Park
- Yellow Zone – allowed for fishing only
- Green Zone – free for various allowed fisheries activities
There are various facilities available in the Biodiversity Park such as toilet, Muslim prayer room, store and staff house. Visitors who come here and wish to spend the night can stay at a hotel in Bukit Besi or a rest house in Kampung Raja which is located not far from the Sungai Loh Fisheries Biodiversity Park. The main attraction here is of course to see many of the conserved Mahseer. Apart from fishing activities in the Yellow Zone, visitors are also allowed to have picnics or camp at the campsite provided. Other attractions are like seeing the Big Neobalanocarpus Tree and Sungai Kelemin Trailhead Campsite.
Sungai Loh Fisheries Biodiversity Park can be accessed by road from Jalan Bukit Besi to kampung Jongok Batu, Pasir Raja, Dungun, Terengganu. Visitors are advised to take care of personal and family safety and are advised to bring their own clothes and food/drink supplies as needed.
Sungai Petang Mahseer Sanctuary is a fish sanctuary established by the Terengganu State Department of Fisheries and managed by the Central Terengganu Development Authority (KETENGAH) under the Ministry of Rural Development. Preliminary efforts were carried out in 2005 with the implementation of inventory research by the Department of Fisheries. In January 2006, fish collection efforts were undertaken. Mahseer Sanctuary began to open to the public on 15 October 2008. As of December 2014, Mahseer Sanctuary has received 29,396 visitors from within and outside of the country.
The sanctuary is open to the public with an entrance ticket fee of RM 10 for adults and RM 5 for children. Among the facilities provided here are control post in the sanctuary complex which operates 24 hours a day, Muslim prayer room, toilet, Phase 1 pedestrian walkway of 800 Meters, suspension bridge of 200 Meters and many more. Visitors are allowed to play, feed and bathe with the tame Mahseer and enjoy the beautiful scenery. For visitors who want to spend the night, you can stay at the boat house, resort, government resort, lodge or homestay Kampung Basong located nearby.
Sungai Petang Mahseer Sanctuary is located in Tasik Kenyir, Hulu Terengganu which is connected through Pengkalan Gawi, Tasik Kenyir. The distance from Kuala Terengganu to Pengkalan Gawi, Tasik Kenyir is 65 Km (approximately 1 hour 10 minutes travel time) while the distance from Pengkalan Gawi to Sanctuary Complex/Stop 1 is 21 km (approximately 40 minutes by speedboat or 2 hours if boarding a boat house). The distance from Stop 1 to Lubuk Kejor is 1.7 km (about 45 minutes walk). The journey from Pengkalan Gawi to the sanctuary is before 12 noon to avoid dark time during the return trip.
