Making proactive efforts to preserve ecosystem for future generations

PETALING JAYA: From engaging in coral replanting projects to capping the number of participants per dive, conservationists and divers are doing all they can to ensure the preservation of coral reefs in Malaysia.

“It’s not just about protecting them now, but also to preserve them for our future generations to hopefully experience it through diving,” said Mark Rahman, a coral propagation trainer at Ocean Quest Global.

Ocean Quest Global is an environmental organisation acting to protect and rehabilitate coral reefs and ensure a sustainable future for local communities.

Mark said participants would replant coral fragments on natural substrates which can be obtained from the tidal zone.

“Replanting will take place at our nurseries. Once the corals reach maturity, we will transport and plant them at identified bald spots on the reef,” he said in an interview.

A coral replanting project is now taking place at Pulau Usukan in Sabah.

Mark said he had observed early signs of coral bleaching during a dive in Pulau Tioman last month, adding: “Intervals between major coral bleaching events also seem to be getting shorter.”Mark, who has been diving since the 1980s and owns a dive centre in Johor, said he kept it to a maximum of six persons per diving trip.

He said that among the dos and don’ts while diving is to never touch the corals or any wildlife in the water.

“The reason we dive is to experience the flora and fauna below. Take nothing but memories and leave nothing but bubbles,” he added.

Senior diving instructor Brian Moh said he caps each diving trip, whether they are for courses or recreational in nature, to four persons at a time.

“We don’t want too many people in the water at once as increasing the traffic below can disturb the flora and fauna there.

“Those taking part in my dives are also advised to put less sunblock as the chemicals can have an effect on the marine ecosystem,” he added.

Moh said tour operators should also understand how having more people in the water is not good for the marine ecosystem.

“Business is business, but we should preserve our surroundings. The ocean is our workplace too and without the diversity it brings, it will be harder for all of us to earn a living,” he said.

Professional diver Peter Yew, who participated in a marine conservation project at Pulau Perhentian and Pulau Lang Tengah in Terengganu more than 10 years ago, said he will be looking out for coral conditions during a trip to Pulau Redang in the coming months.

“Partaking in the project back in 2008 really spurred my interest towards coral conditions, and that will be something I will be observing as well during my next dive,” he said.