Protect Coral Reefs in Malaysia

Following the dive certification training for Larapan and Mantanani youths, they are now trained and certified as EcoDiver. EcoDiver is diver volunteers who help Reef Check to collect data necessary to assess the health of coral reefs for coral reef management and conservation. The survey data is used to identify threats and solutions to protect the reefs. A certified EcoDiver can participate in any Reef Check surveys within the region he or she is certified in.

Simultaneously, in other places, we have trained and certified 3 EcoDiver trainers. These 3 trainers used to be our EcoDiver volunteers, helping us with Reef Check surveys around Malaysia. With the trainer certification, they are now able to train EcoDiver and spread reef awareness to their divers. 

Over the last 2 months, Open Water (OW) and Advanced Open Water (AOW) courses were given to youths from Larapan and Mabul islands. The OW course was participated by 15 youths from Larapan Island and 10 youths from Mabul Island while the AOW course was participated by 5 youths from Mabul Island. These trainings were part of the one-year Marine Conservation Training for youths on the two islands. Upon certification, they will be equipped with other skills such as coral reef surveys, crown-of-thorns removal, mooring line installation and ghost nets removal, to name a few. With these skills, they will be able to join reef managers in managing and conserving their reefs.

Erynie Natykaf turned 21 years old last year. She has been a part of our reef awareness and conservation programmes since she was a primary school student, at a tender age of 10. Reef awareness and education were instilled in her during schooling time. After graduating from school, she has been trained as a diver up to rescue diver and as a Reef Check EcoDiver. Ever since, she has been actively involved in crown-of-thorns management, ghost net removals, reef rehabilitation, surveys and other conservation efforts, while working full time in a family run business. She is one of our most active females Tioman Marine Conservation Group member and is such an inspiration to other young girls on the island.

In the last 3 months, over 3 tonnes of ghost nets were removed from coral reefs around Tioman Island. The ghost nets had sadly claimed the life of many sharks, turtles, fish and corals. These efforts would not have been possible if not for the collaboration between Tioman Marine Conservation Group, Department of Fisheries Malaysia, dive operators on Tioman Island and our team. Many thanks go to Tioman boatmen and dive and snorkelling operators who took the effort to report sightings of ghost nets. And not forgetting your ongoing support to our efforts. Thank you very much from all of us.

We just completed 10 Reef Check surveys at Pulau Sembilan and Pulau Pangkor recently, kick-started the 2023 Reef Check survey programmes in Malaysia!

The data that is collected is vital to track and monitor the health of coral reefs in Malaysia.

We are also delighted to announce that we have just released our 2022 Annual Survey Report. A total of 323 sites were surveyed and the reefs in Malaysia are considered in “Fair” condition with a level of living coral at 47.83%.

Key Findings of 2022 Reef Check Surveys:

• There is a slight increase of live coral cover from 44.26% in 2021 to 47.83% in 2022, and continues a trend noted in 2021 surveys, reversing a decline that started in 2015.
• Abundance of both fish and invertebrate indicators remains generally low suggesting either historical or on-going fishing pressure.
• Indicators of disturbance and pollution have increased in many reef areas.

The report is available at https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5c9c815e348cd94acf3b352e/t/641920b2e55d8325385d8592/1679368396104/2022+Annual+Survey+Report.pdf Do share around.

Links:

• 2022 Status of Coral Reefs in Malaysia