Protect Coral Reefs in Malaysia

At Reef Check Malaysia (RCM), our reef rehabilitation effort is about giving damaged coral reefs a chance to recover. Healthy coral reefs provide homes for marine life, support fisheries and tourism, and sustain the livelihoods of coastal communities. Through replanting of coral fragments, regular monitoring and maintenance, we work alongside local communities to help restore degraded reefs.

And sometimes, we see just how much that effort can achieve. At our rehabilitation sites, coral fragments have grown and marine life has begun returning. These moments remind us why we do this - every surviving coral is a step towards recovery.

But rehabilitation is not without its challenges. While coral growth takes years, a moment of carelessness or destructive activity can undo that progress in seconds.

In Selakan, Sabah, our team recently discovered that two fish-bombing craters had destroyed at least 10 reef stars, along with the corals that had been growing on them for the past two years. For the Selakan Marine Conservation Group (SMCG), the discovery was heartbreaking. SMCG's manager, Ulas Musedi, was deeply saddened to see two years of planting, care and dedication destroyed almost overnight. Despite SMCG's regular patrols, fish bombers had still managed to reach the site. It was a painful reminder that even with committed community members working tirelessly to protect their reefs, destructive fishing practices remain a serious threat.

In Redang, Terengganu, we faced another setback. Corals that our team had deployed in 2023 to rehabilitate a degraded reef area were damaged by boats anchoring directly on the reef. After years of caring for and maintaining the site, it was devastating to see the corals harmed in moments by an activity that could have been avoided.

These setbacks remind us that reef rehabilitation must go hand in hand with protecting reefs from further damage. Beyond planting corals, we continue monitoring our sites, supporting local conservation groups, and promoting responsible fishing and tourism practices. Despite the heartbreak, we have not lost hope. We have seen corals grow and marine life return, reminding us that recovery is possible. Not every coral will survive, and challenges will remain, but every step forward matters. We will continue this work because our reefs are worth fighting for.

Your generosity keeps reef rehabilitation going, from restoring corals to supporting the communities that care for them. Recovery takes time, but with your continued support, we can help Malaysia’s reefs thrive and sustain the marine life and people who depend on them. Together, we can build a future of resilience, recovery and hope.

A couple of months ago, Reef Check Malaysia's team removed a total of 352kg of ghost nets from six areas across Mersing waters in Johor - Pulau Dayang, Pulau Aur, Pulau Mertang, Pulau Hujung, Pulau Tengah and Pulau Besar. In another clean-up effort, the team had removed 160kg of ghost nets in a single operation at Pulau Besar.

Ghost nets are abandoned or lost fishing nets that can continue “fishing” underwater long after they are no longer in use. When caught on reefs, they can break coral structures, entangle marine life and smother important habitats such as coral reefs and seagrass beds, creating wider impacts on fisheries, tourism and coastal communities. 

The scale of the problem highlights why early reports from local communities, fishermen, divers and other ocean users are so important. When ghost nets are spotted, reporting them to relevant authorities or conservation organisations can help teams respond before further damage occurs. In 2025 alone, RCM removed more than 3,000 kg of ghost nets from several project locations across Malaysia.

Every net removed is one less threat to our reefs and the marine life and communities that depend on them.