Tackling thorny issues on the island of Tioman

This underwater ‘James Bond’ is using a vinegar ‘gun’ to tackle marine pests called crown-of-thorns. Photos: RBC

I held the trigger and pierced the fragile skin with the sharp muzzle. And then I shot searing vinegar into the soft body.

I was with a group of 15 divers recently at Tioman island in Pahang. We were armed with special “guns” to kill marine pests known as crown-of-thorns, multiple-armed starfish with venomous spikes, which eat through coral reefs.