Protect Coral Reefs in Malaysia

Reef Check Malaysia’s (RCM) annual Reef Check survey program is progressing well, withseveral sites in Tioman, Redang, Mersing, Sabah and Sarawak already completed. These Reef Check surveys are usually led by RCM staff, with assistance from volunteer EcoDivers, or even volunteers from the local communities we work with, other NGOs or government partners.  

Reef Check surveys use a globally standardised scientific protocol to collect valuable data that reflect the health of coral reefs. The data collected include types and abundance of reef fish, invertebrates and substrate (types of corals). During the surveys, EcoDivers also note the impact to reefs, and most recently, they record any signs of coral bleaching.

In Malaysia, Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) conducts these annual surveys in more than 300 sites across Malaysia. Our survey data is published as a report every year, made available on our website. This data reflects the changing status of coral reefs and indicate what steps can be taken by local managers to conserve them.

In our recent surveys in Mantanani Islands in Sabah, our team found that fish bombing, spearfishing and anchoring are unfortunately still common practices. Such habits can significantly impact coral reefs, and in some cases, the destruction is so severe and irreversible. We have been closely working with the local community to address these issues, by providing alternative livelihood and capacity-building programmes. These efforts are conducted to hopefully move them away from unsustainable practices and to reduce their sole dependence on jobs that impact coral reefs.

Local community members who have been trained as EcoDivers and volunteer for our surveys have witnessed first hand the health of coral reefs around their island. This will encourage them to take ownership of the coral reefs they have and work together to protect them. Our local conservation group members, such as the Tioman and Redang Marine Conservation Group (TMCG and RMCG) have been supportive and key in conducting these surveys, aside from carrying out other conservation activities.

Mantanani is a group of islands located in the South China Sea, off the west coast of Sabah in Malaysia. There are two villages on Mantanani Island – Kampung Siring Bukit and Kampung Padang, with a population of approximately 1,000 people. Fishing has traditionally been the main source of income and protein for villagers.

Having worked there since 2012, Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) has identified a few issues on the island. In the last decade or so, tourism has picked up on this once quiet, beautiful island. RCM saw a need to embark on alternative livelihood trainings for the local community on Mantanani, to encourage environmentally-friendly practices to reduce impacts on the marine ecosystems such as coral reefs.

To achieve this, we introduced and trained the local community to engage in other occupations such as becoming eco-friendly snorkel guides and homestay operators. Our “Homestays Improvement Program” that we began in Mantanani has been progressing rather well. Our colleagues on the island recently conducted a meeting with all the operators, to discuss their plans for the year and any issues that needed attention.

Each of these local operators attended several training sessions, in which they were equipped with better skills to run their business. The two-year project called “Establishing Community-Based Eco-Tourism in Mantanani”, funded by GEF SGP UNDP Malaysia, ended in 2022. Since then, the businesses have been running and generating quite good income for the local owners.

In the first year of operation in 2021, the homestays generated RM21,235; this amount doubled to RM46,270 in 2022. The total income in 2023 alone was close to RM60,000, which is almost three times more than the income in 2021! The total number of tourists who used the homestays also increased from 124 people in 2021, to 425 people in 2022, to 665 in 2023! We are immensely proud of the local homestay owners for their hard work and dedication in improving their services, and their effort in managing their homestays. Our colleagues on the island regularly engage with the homestay owners, to continually offer assistance in helping them carry out their business successfully. 

If you know of anyone who would be visiting Mantanani Island and is looking for a place to stay, you can support the local homestays by making a booking here.

Links:

• Cintai Mantanani - community programmes on Mantanani Island