Community effort: Some of the coral reef frames being set up in the earlier stages of the programme as students (below) learn about making them.
12,000 fragments laid in sea around Kudat in a reef restoration initiative
KOTA KINABALU: A large-scale reef restoration effort in Sabah has landed in the Malaysia Book of Records after 12,000 coral fragments were laid in the sea around Kudat in what is recognised as the “largest coral fragment planting initiative”.
The achievement was verified yesterday, in conjunction with the ninth anniversary of the gazettement of the Tun Mustapha Park in Kudat.
Various agencies, local communities and volunteers managed to plant the coral fragments on the seafloor at Simpang Mengayau (Tip of Borneo), close to Pulau Kalampunian, from May 5 to 18.
“Congratulations to the director of Sabah Parks (Dr Maklarin Lakim) and his team, all collaborative partners, and implementing agencies that turned this vision into a reality,” said Datuk Seri Christina Liew, Sabah’s Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister.
“To the local communities – you are the true guardians of the sea. This collaboration strengthens an inclusive and effective conservation network,” she said, adding that the figure of 12,000 (coral fragments) reflected everyone’s determination and unity.
Acknowledging the equally important role played by villages like Tajau Laut, Marang Parang, Bavang Jamal and the Banggi Island community, Liew commended them for having been key contributors to conservation efforts ranging from joint monitoring and coral reef restoration to community-based ecotourism.
She said this activity was accomplished earlier than expected in just four days, with the participation of over 500 individuals, including from Sabah Parks, WWF-Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, enforcement agencies and the private sector.
The participants comprised certified divers, non-divers, local communities from Kg Tajau Laut and Simpang Mengayau, and various stakeholders, including tourism players, she said.
Since its gazettement nine years ago, the Tun Mustapha Park (TTM), which spans over 898,000ha, has pioneered the management of marine-protected areas in Sabah.
It is Malaysia’s largest multi-use marine park and one of the most expansive in the region, housing over 528 species of fish, 250 species of corals, three endangered sea turtle species, dugongs, dolphins and iconic species such as whale sharks and whales, she said.
Meanwhile, tourists caught handling starfish (also known as sea stars) in Sabah’s territorial waters will face stern action, said Liew in response to yet another incident that took place near Tanjung Aru, just outside the boundaries of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.
The viral video showed a tourist, believed to be a foreign national, who was on a paddleboard (stand-up-paddle), doing the misdeed recently.
“KePKAS views this incident seriously and authorities will not hesitate to take stern action against any party found violating regulations related to wildlife and natural ecosystems in the state,” said Liew.
Following an investigation conducted by Sabah Parks, it was confirmed that the incident involved a tour company, with a total of 30 sea stars collected in the incident, ranging from the Horned Sea Star or Chocolate Chip Sea Star, known locally as tapak sulaiman bertanduk (Protoreaster nodosus).
She urged all tour operators to exercise greater responsibility in ensuring that their clients and staff adhere strictly to guidelines and regulations, particularly those concerning the protection of marine life.
“Awareness and compliance with these regulations are vital to ensure the sustainability of the marine ecosystem for the well-being of future generations,” she said.
