Impact of human activities on Mersing islands to be checked through survey

Peris hopes agencies and NGOs can help to reverse any impact or improve the conservation efforts.

REEF Check Malaysia (RCM) Mersing is expected to present its survey report in December on the impact of human activities on the islands.

RCM Mersing Sustainable Tourism programme manager Atteleth Don Peris said the report would also provide the latest data on marine life for the past five years.

“It is quite special because we will finally have a five-year survey to see how the reef health and coverage area are affected by human activities.

“Since all 13 islands in Mersing are open for tourist activities, it will provide an insight into islands that are least visited compared to those often visited by tourists,” he said when contacted.

Peris said if the data on the substrate (reef composition) showed signs of decline, RCM would suggest that human activities there be reduced.

“We would want to give room for the environment to recuperate and regenerate itself.

“The findings will be shared with the Mersing District Office, Mersing District Council, Mersing Reef and Island Conservation, Mersing Tourism Association, resort owners, as well as island hopping and boat operators,” he said.

The current monsoon season will also provide the relevant stakeholders with a proper plan for the way forward for tourism activities on the island, he added.

“So from there, the agencies and NGOs involved can come up with a plan to reverse any impact or improve the conservation effort that we have done,” added Peris.

Tengah Island Conservation (TIC) director Tanya Leibrick said beach cleanup activities would be continued despite not being able to access all areas of the island during the monsoon season.

She expected extra help after the season to clean up the large amounts of marine debris that washed to the shores during that time.

“We usually wrap up our fieldwork, such as the sea turtle monitoring and changing the sand in our sea turtle hatchery, to give the best possible conditions for the next batch of turtle eggs to develop.

“Schools and community projects usually continue throughout the monsoon,” she said, adding that they also have to prepare to conduct surveys, while improving the volunteer houses that are base camps for survey participants.