Good ‘buoys’ to save corals

Doing their part: A tourism boat crew using the mooring buoys a day after they were installed. — Picture courtesy of Reef Check Malaysia

KOTA KINABALU: Volunteers and various stakeholders concerned about the wellbeing of coral reefs put their hands together to deploy mooring buoys in Sabah’s east coast Semporna district to save the marine life there from human destruction.

Reef Check Malaysia, in collaboration with the Semporna district office, Pulau Sipadan Resort and Tours (PSR) as well as volunteers from the Pemimpin Iklim Belia Mabul and Larapan Marine Conservation Group, successfully installed four buoys at the Timba-Timba Island from Jan 11-12.

Reef Check Malaysia programme manager Adzmin Fatta said the primary objective of installing these mooring buoys was to mitigate the environmental impact caused by anchoring from boat operators engaged in diving and snorkelling activities around the reefs of the Island.

“The indiscriminate use of anchors has been identified as a significant threat to the health of coral reefs, prompting this collaborative effort to provide an eco-friendly alternative for marine enthusiasts,” he said when contacted yesterday.

“The mooring buoy deployment aligns with the broader goal of Reef Check Malaysia to foster marine conservation leadership in Semporna.

“The initiative not only addresses immediate environmental concerns but also contributes to the sustainable management of marine resources and the long-term vitality of the region,” he added.

A mooring buoy is essentially a floating structure used to moor sea vessels either in deep or shallow water, with the buoy moored to the seabed using chains or ropes.

Crucial corals: Reefs unharmed by anchoring activities at Timba-Timba Island. — Picture courtesy of Reef Check Malaysia

This initiative was part of the ‘Building Marine Conservation Leaders in Semporna’ project, funded by the CIMB Foundation, with additional support from Tourism Jetty and the Semporna Professional Dive Association.

Adzmin said each mooring buoy was equipped with three sinkers, capable of accommodating three to five boats.

He added that it was important to address local impacts, including anchoring, to strengthen reef resilience and support local communities.

“Reefs are crucial not only for our marine ecosystem but also for our livelihoods, such as tourism and fisheries,” he said.

Semporna district officer Alexandar Liew was delighted with the buoy installation and urged boat operators to use these facilities.

“Many have raised concerns on the anchoring impacts at Timba-Timba, particularly by dive and snorkelling guides.

“Therefore, it is important for us to address this issue to ensure the sustainability of our tourism industry in Semporna,” he said.