Underwater damage: The condition of the scraped reef.
KOTA KINABALU: The pristine and lush seabeds of Pom-Pom island, Semporna, home to numerous marine species, especially endangered sea turtles, are now under threat.
Conservationists in the area have noticed a foreign barge, believed to be owned by a tour company, dredging sand from the seabed.
“If the government is serious about caring for the environment and preserving nature, why is this happening?” a conservationist, who declined to be named, said.
He believes this work is for the construction of a new resort on the island.
Workers were seen bringing in soil, rocks and other building materials on the barge.
“They tried to bring the barge into the island, but even during the highest tide, it wasn’t possible for it to get close to shore,” he said.
“The workers then tried to dredge a deeper pathway to the shore to allow the barge in. However, the plan didn’t work.”
The conservationist further claimed the workers tried to create a “reclaimed beach” so the barge could offload materials.
“They are destroying the reefs on the western side. They’ve been dredging and causing sedimentation there,” he alleged.
Most of the species that make the area their home and foraging ground are green turtles and eagle rays.
According to the conservationist, any such works should require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and approval from the state’s Environment Protection Department.
“We are not aware of any EIA being carried out. There were no surveys done as far as we know to assess the impact on the reefs and corals.
“If you look at the barge, it is massive and directly above the reefs. You can see that the sedimentation has already spread to a larger area.”
He added that the affected area is covered with sea grass which acts as a food source for green turtles and nursery ground for fish.
With the sedimentation, sea grass will not get sunlight and will eventually die.
