Protect Coral Reefs in Malaysia

Crown-of-Thorns (COTs) preys on hard corals and can damage coral reefs when their population exceeds 20-30 individuals per 10,000m² healthy reef. If their number is above the acceptable limit, COTs injection is needed to control their population.

A number of coral reefs around Malaysia have been recording high number of COTs. From January until June, numerous COTs removal programmes were carried out and a total of 3411 COTs were injected; 1415 COTs from Tioman Island, Pahang, 1081 COTs from Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Kota Kinabalu and 915 COTs from Blue Rings, Kunak. The success of these efforts was due to collaboration from Reef Check Malaysia, Department of Fisheries Pahang and Sabah, Tioman Marine Conservation Group, dive centres and volunteers.

Anchor plays an important role in shipping industry. It is drop to the bottom to prevent the ship or boat from drifting away due to wind and currents. However, using an anchor can be devastating if it is drop in a coral reef area. Corals are easily broken as the anchor hits the corals or the anchor line gets dragged along the bottom. Not only that, other marine flora and fauna living at the bottom of the sea will also be affected.

By installing mooring buoy and mooring line at dive sites, boatmen do not have to drop anchor on the reef, they just need to tie their boats to the mooring buoy or mooring line. This prevent reefs damage. There were plenty of mooring buoys and mooring lines installed around Tioman Island, unfortunately, a lot of the buoys were damaged during monsoon season and some were cut loose and removed by illegal fishermen.

With the end of monsoon season and beginning of diving season, Reef Check Malaysia together with Department of Fisheries Pahang, Tioman Marine Conservation Group and Tioman Dive Association installed a total of 14 mooring buoys and mooring lines around Tioman Island, replacing lost one as well as adding new one.