Community Marine Conservation Groups – Coming of Age

Community Marine Conservation Groups – Coming of Age

Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) has long championed the cause of local communities having a role in managing protected areas, whether terrestrial or marine. The establishment of protected areas to manage and conserve biodiversity inevitably affects communities’ traditional rights of access to those resources.

Yes, it’s in a good cause, and ultimately will benefit everyone. But there can be significant impacts on the livelihoods of local communities. Surely few would disagree that those communities that are affected should be involved in decisions about how such areas are established and subsequently managed. It’s only fair, right?

These concepts are not new, and, lest we forget, they are enshrined in several national and international policies and agreements:

• At national level, the Malaysian National Policy on Biological Diversity stresses the inclusion of local communities in biodiversity conservation, as does the 12th Malaysia Plan

• At international level, the Global Biodiversity Framework specifically includes a role for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, a role that is also recognised in the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

RMCG with TMCG during a study trip

First Steps - A Local Presence

In 2014 RCM opened its first field office, on Tioman Island, with a goal to localise conservation efforts. The largest island off the East coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Tioman is home to a population of around 3,700 islanders…and receives around 250,000 tourist visitors per year. 

Back in 1994, the waters around Tioman, along with over 40 other islands off the East coast, were gazetted as a Marine Park. The Marine Park covers an area from low water mark out to 2 nautical miles from the island, and no fishing or other harvesting are allowed.

Since the Marine Park was established, various attempts have been made to create a role for local communities in how the Marine Park is managed. For example, as part of a UNDP-funded project running from 2007 to 2013, a Community Consultative Committee was proposed as a suitable structure. However, for various reasons none of these initiatives took root.

So, it was no surprise that we found strong interest among local stakeholders in being more involved in conservation of the island’s marine resources, highlighted in a 2014 survey of local islanders’ opinions. Subsequent research revealed systemic challenges to greater recruitment of local islanders in the Marine Park authority, relating to government hiring policies…

The First Community Marine Conservation Group (CMCG)

…and thus, was born the Tioman Marine Conservation Group (TMCG). And here we are, celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year!

Happy 10 years of TMCG!

TMCG started as a pilot project to engage local communities in conservation activities. An initial group of 10 recruits has since grown to over 80 full-time members, and TMCG is present in all seven village on Tioman Island.

We have provided training in a variety of skills, from diving certification through reef surveys and ghost net removal to rehabilitation and other conservation actions.Members now participate in weekly conservation programmes and are paid a small sum for their time.

So, not only is TMCG acting as a critical conservation partner, introducing a participatory component to marine resource management, it is also contributing to the economy on the island. Further, we are able to branch out into other conservation programmes including Green Fins, a best practice programme for dive operators, and Green Hotels – green best practices for resorts and hotels. And we are engaging with local municipal government and other stakeholders.

Reef Care – Institutionalising Community Participation

In 2020, the Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DoFM) introduced the Reef Care programme, which for the first time gave local communities some responsibility for managing coral reefs in their area. TMCG and RCM were appointed as partners for Tioman…and we requested DoFM to expand the programme to other areas.

Importantly, the Reef Care programme provided a mechanism to institutionalise community participation in management of marine resources.

9 Community Marine Conservation Groups (CMCGs) and growing…

‘Reef Care’ was a term specifically applied to community groups under the supervision of DoFM in Peninsular Malaysia. Following consultations within RCM, with other Reef Care partners and other marine conservation players, a new name was agreed to recognise different communities and stakeholders across Malaysia: Community Marine Conservation Group (CMCGs).

A set of operating and reporting guidelines was agreed by the partners, in an effort to standardize activities, make it easier for new partners to start, and ultimately strengthen the network. There are now 9 CMCGs supported by RCM, Fuze Ecoteer and PULIHARA and there are plans to extend the network.

RCM’s current CMCG partners include:

• Peninsular Malaysia: Tioman island, Redang island, Mersing

• Sabah: Larapan island, Selakan island, Mabul island, Kulapuan island. 

The Redang Marine Conservation Group (RMCG) with the ghostnets they cleared

Success of the Community Marine Conservation Group (CMCGs) model

Data collected from CMCGs at the end of 2024 clearly show that the CMCGs are a proven approach to empowering local communities and building capacity in marine management and conservation.

Key achievements in 2024 include:

• CMCGs have conducted coral reef surveys at 136 sites, nearly half of the annual survey programme in Malaysia, demonstrating strong interest among local communities in participating in reef management

• Over 4,000 kg of ghost nets and other fishing gear have been removed from the ocean by the CMCGs

• Community groups have conducted 67 underwater clean-ups and numerous beach clean-ups, removing over 25,000 kg of trash

• 115 school education and awareness progammes have been completed at more than 15 locations.

We have released our CMCG Annual Summary Report 2024 here and you can also find it on our website.

Our recently released CMCG Annual Summary Report 2024

What’s next for Community Marine Conservation Groups (CMCGs)?

We are exploring several opportunities to extend the CMCG programme. In Peninsular Malaysia, efforts are focusing on establishing further community groups on the mainland, possibly in communities associated with islands. In Sabah, we are discussing opportunities to establish new CMCGs with various communities and government agencies.

The most important next step is to work with relevant government agencies at Federal and State levels to institutionalise the CMCGs, by providing them with a formal role in marine resource management.

Although they have proven highly successful to date, CMCGs still have no recognized position, and this needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency to truly make local community participation in marine resource management a reality.

We are working to change that. Please contact us at hello@reefcheck.org.my if you would like to learn more about the CMCGs and explore ways to support them.

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If you'd like to support us, you can follow our social media pages for any updates on our work and volunteering opportunities, or you could also donate towards our cause.

(Part II) The Results of the 2024 Reef Check Surveys: Challenges and Opportunities

What Can We Do to Help Malaysia's Coral Reefs

In my last post I covered the results of the 2024 annual reef check survey programme, which had just been released.

The headline: coral reef health declined slightly – again – compared to the previous year, and I outlined several challenges facing coral reefs.

I finished with a question: so, what can we do? We urgently need to look at three opportunities to address this decline.

Build Coral Resilience

Back to our old friend: resilience.

This describes the ability of an ecosystem to either “shrug off” an external threat or impact (such as bleaching) or to recover from it.

We do this by addressing the local impacts that are affecting them.

Urgent Actions to Address Local Impacts to Coral Reefs

Reducing physical damage to reefs:

• training courses for boat operators to reduce impacts from groundings and anchors

• encourages dive operators to Best Practice programmes such as the Green Fins programme

• training courses for snorkel guides in eco-friendly snorkelling guiding Best Practices

• consider limiting number of tourists allowed access to particularly sensitive areas

• awareness raising programmes for fishing communities to reduce fishing pressure on reefs

• provides fishing net collection bins at all fish landing ports and regulate the sale of fishing nets.

Installing mooring buoys is one of our efforts to reduce impacts to the reefs

Reducing sewage pollution in the ocean:

• encourages resorts to upgrade sewage treatment

• increase water quality testing

• implements septic tank maintenance programmes on all islands

Reducing impacts of coastal development:

• rigorously enforces planning controls in sensitive islands

• ensure EIAs are completed and EMPs are prepared and implemented

Protecting fish populations:

• manages fishing effort to ensure herbivore populations are maintained

• reduce IUU (illegal, un-regulated and un-reported) and destructive fishing practices through enforcement and awareness campaigns.

It is important to note that none of these interventions requires novel technologies, and most are zero or low cost, with the emphasis on improved enforcement. Many can be achieved simply by strengthening management or enforcing existing regulations to reduce or eliminate impacts.

Whole of Government Participation in Marine Management

The second challenge is to recognize that success in this endeavour will require a “whole of government” approach. No individual department has the mandate to respond to and manage the variety of impacts facing coral reefs; it will require government agencies with different responsibilities to collaborate and integrate coral reef management between them.

Specifically, this will require greater participation of State governments in managing marine resources, particularly in Peninsular Malaysia (there is already greater integration of State governments into marine resource management in East Malaysia).

Whole of Society Participation in Marine Management

Finally, we will require a “whole of society” approach. Marine resource management largely uses a “top-down” approach, with decisions being made by government agencies.

The role of local stakeholders (including communities, businesses, state and municipal government) is currently limited – despite local and international agreements that encourage a greater role in management and conservation for such stakeholders.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Malaysia’s National Policy on Biological Diversity (NPBD), and the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK 12) all envisage a greater role for indigenous peoples and local communities. However, there is no formal mechanism that currently exists to enable this and empower local stakeholders. This issue is further explored in the following section.

Two of our CMCGs - RMCG and TMCG

Reef Check Malaysia’s Focus in 2025

So, what is our focus going to be this year?

Two key areas:

• Building community participation: expanding our existing Community Marine Conservation Groups (CMCGs) – report on 2024 activities available soon

• Greater advocacy, education and awareness raising, particularly among key decision makers, to raise the profile of marine ecosystems and ensure decision makers are getting the information they need to make the decisions that reefs need.

I’ll be talking about these issues in the coming months so, don't miss out!

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If you'd like to support us, you can follow our social media pages for any updates on our work and volunteering opportunities, or you could also donate towards our cause.

The Results of the 2024 Reef Check Surveys: Challenges and Opportunities

Reef Check Malaysia's Annual Survey Report 2024 Completed

We have just finalised the report on our 2024 annual coral reef survey programme in Malaysia. I thought it might be useful to share parts of the conclusions and recommendations to an audience who perhaps are not regular readers of our annual survey report.

For those of you are interested, it will be published on our website here; for those of you who don’t need that much data – we will be publishing a shortened version by the end of February.

Conclusions from the Report

Here’s the headline: from 2023-2024 there was a slight decline in Live Coral Cover (LCC), one of the key reef health indicators. This measures the percentage of the reef itself that is live coral – either hard coral or soft coral.

And the 2024 surveys indicate that LCC declined from 45.9% in 2023 to 44.7% in 2024, continuing a trend that originates from 2022.

Ok, it’s only a couple of years, and not really that much change, I agree…but we need to look at the broader historical trend. Here’s the data for the last 18 years.

Analysing Trends in the Health of Malaysia’s Coral Reefs

Granted that it is a bit unstable in the first couple of years due to low numbers of surveys as the programme got started. However, this graph, which shows trends in LCC (and other substrate indicators) going back to the beginning of our surveys, reveals some stark trends:

• First there was the impact of the 2010 bleaching event, which saw LCC drop by about 10% from 2010 to 2011

• Then there was the “first great recovery” (my slightly tongue-in-cheek description!!) from 2011 to around 2013, when LCC returned to pre-bleaching levels

• After that there was a slow slide, from around 50% LCC in 2013 to around 43% in 2019. We think this coincides with the growth in tourism experienced in the post-2008 financial crash era

• Then the “second great recovery” – from 2019-2022, when LCC again recovered to earlier levels around 50%. This period, clearly, coincides with the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw greatly reduced tourist numbers…coincidence?

• Finally, the more recent years since then, which show a slight decline from a high of 50% in 2022 to the 44.7% seen in 2024. A drop of just over 5 percentage points – 10% of coral cover lost in just two years.

Analysing trends in the health of Malaysia’s coral reefs

Bearing in mind that:

a) this is aggregated national data;

b) the situation does vary a little in different locations; and

c) there was that little coral bleaching event in 2024, the results of the 2024 survey programme should ring alarm bells for all stakeholders – whether in government, the tourism industry, or among local communities.

Action is required now to improve management and conservation of Malaysia’s coral reefs.

Malaysia’s Coral Reefs are Deteriorating

The data suggest that the health of Malaysia’s coral reefs is deteriorating. Other key findings from the surveys are:

• The deterioration in coral reef health noted in our 2023 survey programme has continued into 2024. 63% of the islands/areas surveyed saw a decrease in Live Coral Cover (LCC), a key coral reef health indicator.

• As in previous years, the abundance of most fish and invertebrate indicators continues to be low, suggesting either historical over-fishing or on-going fishing pressure. This raises a concern about poaching in those survey sites that are in protected areas. In Sabah, 64% of the reefs recorded dynamite fishing damage.

• Disturbance and pollution indicators highlight the trends in the trajectory of reef health, with both local and global impacts evident during surveys. Approximately 83% of the islands/areas surveyed are impacted by discarded fishing nets and trash and 56% are impacted by anchor damage. Malaysia’s reefs have not been spared from the 4th Global Coral Bleaching Event, with coral bleaching documented at nearly 90% of the islands/areas surveyed.

Coral bleaching documented at nearly 90% of the islands/areas surveyed in 2024

The reduction in LCC noted above is indicative of impacts arising from a variety of human activities including unsustainable tourism, fishing, land clearing, pollution and other activities. These, combined with the recent large-scale coral bleaching event, are among the causes of the deterioration in reef health and urgent action is needed to address this decline.

And here is a cheery thought: what would the graph look like without those two periods during which reefs recovered? LCC could be as much as 10% lower than it already is, at around just 35%.

All is not lost – saving our coral reefs

We always say “all is not lost” and we are going to say it again this year…with the caveat that I believe we are running out of time to conserve reefs in their current form, before they go through a phase shift to an algae-dominated ecosystem.

These are much less productive than coral reefs – so fisheries output will be reduced, affecting the livelihoods of thousands of small-scale fishers in Malaysia, not to mention national food security. They are also much less attractive to tourists – potentially affecting the livelihoods of thousands of more people who work in the tourism industry.

So, what can we do? I’ll save the serious stuff until everyone has recovered from the Chinese New Year food coma😊. Gong Xi Fa Cai, everyone!!

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If you'd like to support us, you can follow our social media pages for any updates on our work and volunteering opportunities, or you could also donate towards our cause.

Sabah Updates: October - December 2024

KOTA KINABALU

RCM’s TEAM AT VARIOUS STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS

In October, RCM Attended the ‘Darvel Bay Scientific Technical Working Group Zoning Workshop’ organised by Sabah Parks and WWF-Malaysia. The workshop discussed the management framework that has four Focus Areas: Preservation and Conservation, Ecotourism Development, Sustainable Financing, and Capacity Building.

Sharing session by Sabah Parks representative

Our colleague Nadhirah also participated in the ‘CTI National Plan of Action 2.0’, contributing to the documentation of the plan. She shared about past and ongoing Reef Check Malaysia program conducted all around Malaysia, especially with the local island communities in Coral Triangle areas. This programme was lead by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability of Malaysia (NRES), facilitated by Borneo Marine Research Institute (BMRI), and included participation by Sabah Parks, WWF-Malaysia, Marine Research Foundation, Kudat Turtle Conservation Society and many more.

SABAH INTERNATIONAL BLUE ECONOMY CONFERENCE (SIBEC)

In October, our colleague Nadhirah represented RCM as one of the panelist at the Social Inclusion and Community Empowerment forum during the Sabah International Blue Economy Conference. Nadhirah shared about our programs in Sabah, focusing on reef conservation and community-based waste management. She also had the opportunity to share how local communities play a role in preserving marine ecosystems while benefitting from sustainable economic opportunities of the Blue Economy. Through the establishment of our Community Marine Conservation Groups (CMCGs), the local communities are empowered, given a stronger voice and are actively part of preserving and conserving their natural ecosystem and resources.

BLUE ECONOMY WORKSHOP

In response to Sabah state government's plan on the Blue Economy agenda, Reef Check Malaysia was invited by Sabah Young Business and Industry Leaders Network (Sybil) to share about our programs in Sabah during their Blue Economy Workshop. About 25 people attended the workshop which discussed Blue Economy in Sabah and a presentation by Sabah Ports. Nadhirah from RCM presented on "Building Resilient Coastal Economies: Integrating Community-Based Conservation with Sustainable Economic Development", followed by a discussion to gather feedback and suggestions on the 4 pillars outlined in the Sabah Blue Economy agenda.

Nadhirah (third from left) receiving a certificate of participation

expanding our work in kota kinabalu

Our colleagues organised a courtesy visit to Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu to introduce Reef Check Malaysia and discuss possible collaborations with conservation programs. The mayor expressed great interest in collaborating with RCM to tackle solid wastes issues in Kota Kinabalu, beginning with community engagement at a few coastal villages in the area. RCM also had the opportunity to gift the mayor handicrafts from WANIS (local women’s group of Kampung Song-Song), which is a new product of Mengkuang box made out of Serdang leaves.

Mengkuang boxes made from Serdang leaves that were gifted to the DBKK Mayor

*If you are interested in purchasing these beautiful and unique handmade boxes to support the local group, please reach out to us as they are available on a pre-order basis.

completion of annual reef check surveys

In early November, our team completed the Reef Check Survey in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. The corals took a hard hit from the recent mass coral bleaching event and the storm that hit the west coast in September. The corals that withstood the heat are recovering, but some are toppled over because of the severe storm impact.

We also completed the surveys in Tun Mustapha Park with great support from WWF-Malaysia and Sabah Parks. This year’s survey showed major bombing and anchoring damages on the reefs, especially among the further sites in Maliangin, Banggi and near Pitas area.

The TAR Park survey team from RCM and Sabah Parks

Calvin from RCM conducting the survey at Tun Mustapha Park

SEMPORNA

PRESENTING PROGRESS OF COMMUNITY-BASED EFFORTS

In October, our colleagues Adzmin and Nadhirah met with Sabah Parks to present the project progress of the Community-Based Coral Conservation and Restoration Programme in Sabah (Selakan Island). The meeting was chaired by Sabah Parks Director, Dr. Maklarin, and attended by several other staff. The Director was happy with the progress especially with the local community involvement in the program. During the meeting, a few issues were discussed, including waste management on the island and the sustainability of the program (financing etc) and the role of the local communities as the project comes to an end. Our colleagues also presented a proposal which will contribute to the sustainability of this program, and the active roles of various stakeholders (Local Town Council, Local District Office and government bodies) in supporting clean-up programs in Semporna.

Adzmin presenting the project’s progress to Sabah Parks

WRAPPING UP Larapan island’s WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

At the end of October, RCM officially wrapped up the waste management program in Larapan Island, funded by SC Johnson. Since its inception in March 2022, 105 households, representing nearly 1,000 residents participated in the program. Together, we have prevented 22,896.4 kg of waste from being directly disposed into the marine ecosystem. Compliance levels, based on our monitoring system, reached 54% (satisfactory). The program will be continued by WWF-Malaysia (Semporna) as part of their No Plastic In Nature (NPIN) initiative. RCM extends our gratitude to the village leaders, local community members, Majlis Daerah Semporna, as well as our close ally in waste management, AMWIL Deslen for their participation and support.

SEMPORNA CLEANLINESS CAMPAIGN

RCM and the representatives from a few local government departments conducted an assessment in 13 coastal villages around Semporna Town, as part of the Semporna Cleanliness Campaign launched by the District Officer, Tn Alexander Liew. In mid-December, RCM, together with the Semporna District Council organised the Majlis Penganugerahan Kebersihan Kampung Peringkat Zon Persisir Pantai Daerah Semporna. During the award ceremony, RCM received an honorable mention by the District Officer of Semporna for our outstanding dedication and support to build up Semporna’s community.

Fauzi from RCM interviewing the villagers during the assessment session

mantanani

Ongoing removal of waste materials and recyclables

In the last 3 months of 2024, our team on Mantanani Island had collected 1009.2kg of wastes (consisting of plastic waste and genereal waste), which were transported out to the waste disposal centre in Kayu Madang, Tuaran.

Meanwhile, they also collected 368kg of plastic bottles and 343kg of drinking cans, which were successfully transported to GNC recycling centre to be recycled.

All the recyclables being loaded onto the boat for transport

The Kota Belud District Council (MDKB) collects the waste to be transported to Kayu Madang

Cintai Redang: October - December 2024

Clean-ups around Redang

In mid-October, 8 members of the RMCG conducted an underwater clean-up around the Redang Jetty. 4 members went underwater to collect the rubbish on their dives, while the other 4 stayed on the surface for support and to bring the rubbish back to land. Most of the rubbish collected were plastic wastes.

At the end of October, 5 RMCG members conducted a clean-up at Pantai Teluk Dalam, collecting 57.5kg worth of plastic waste from the beach. In December, the same team cleaned up the beach in Teluk Dalam again, to remove plastic waste washed ashore due to strong waves during the monsoon season. The team managed to remove 65kg of plastic waste along the beach.

An RMCG member collecting rubbish during the underwater cleanup

RMCG members cleaning up the beach at Teluk Dalam

TERENGGANU BIODIVERSITY SEMINAR

Our colleague Asma attended the first Terengganu Biodiversity Seminar, held in Wisma Darul Iman. The seminar, officiated by the Pemangku Raja Terengganu, was a historical event that showed the state’s focus on its biodiversity and conservation efforts. It introduced various conservation initiatives, and served as a platform for exchange of opinion and expertise in the effort to protect the natural resources of Terengganu. With the support of various organisations including RCM, Terengganu will soon be a destination that is recognised for its conservation activities.

WORK TRIP TO SEMPORNA

In early December, Muhaimin from our Redang team attended the “Adopt SeKarang” workshop, held in the Semporna Public Library. The one day workshop, attended by the local community that live around Semporna was an initiative by RCM held to promote coral reef conservation activities. We had the opportunity to discuss useful information and plans to be implemented in Semporna, and we hope to be able to apply some ideas in Redang in the near future.

This workshop was also attended by representatives and officers, including from Sabah Tourism, Sabah State Park and Semporna District Office.

NCTF Conservation Carnival 1.0

Cintai Redang was honoured to be selected as one of the 12 organisations that received funding and support from the National Conservation Trust Fund (NCTF). This has enabled us to empower the local community we work with, especially the younger generation and youths through increased knowledge and new skills in environmental conservation. In conjunction with this program, we were invited as an exhibitor at the NCTF Conservation Carnival to share about our efforts in protecting the ecosystems around Redang Island.

Asma speaking to a visitor at our booth during the NCTF Carnival

Cintai Mersing: October - December 2024

HOPE FOR OUR CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEM

This year, our team conducted monthly reef rehabilitation monitoring and maintenance of the previously installed artificial structures at Pulau Sibu and Pulau Besar. The results have been encouraging, as the transplanted corals successfully attached to the structures. Additionally, we have observed an increase in reef fishes around structures, indicating that the rehabilitation site is beginning to provide shelter and habitat for other marine life. We hope this initiative will contribute to the recovery of damaged reefs in the Mersing islands and, over time, provide essential ecosystem services for marine life and the local community.

Corals attached and growing on glass bottles

MERSING INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION DAY 2024

The Mersing International Conservation Day 2024 was co-organised by Mersing District Council, Tengah Island Conservation, and Mersing Tourism Association under the Sustainable Travel Mersing initiatives. 10 local agencies including RCM and organisations came together to showcase their various environmental conservation and sustainability efforts as well as local tourism products in Mersing. Activities included wildlife sample displays, booth games and environmental awareness talks. Over 400 people visited and participated in the event, which demonstrated interest among the locals and tourists to know more about the environmental efforts conducted in Mersing and its significance towards the local tourism industries.

RCM staff conducting an activity at our booth

ENGAGING STUDENTS THROUGH OUTREACH PROGRAMS

In the last quarter of 2024, we organised four awareness programs with 77 students and teachers from four local primary schools. The program, which included outdoor and indoor games integrated with environmental conservation values, aimed to enhance local student’s understanding of the importance of protecting the marine ecosystem and how recycling can help reduce the threats of plastic pollution towards the marine environment.

Our team was also invited to conduct five awareness talks on the coral reef ecosystem under the Pendidik Ekosistem dan Alam Sekitar (PEDAS) initiatives. The PEDAS initiative is an environmental education program conducted in collaboration with the Mersing District Council, Mersing District Education Office, Department of Fisheries, Tengah Island Conservation, Trash Hero Mersing, Reef Check Malaysia, and The MareCet Research Organization. A total of 292 students and teachers from five local primary schools participated in the program.

Badriah (RCM) speaking to the students about recycling

An outdoor game session for the students

IMPROVING MERSING ISLAND WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES

The Pulau Tinggi community recycling programme was initiated last year with the support and participation of the local community. To improve the island’s waste management system and encourage more sustainable practices, we have built the Pulau Tinggi community recycling centre. This facility serves as a temporary storage area for collected recycling materials.

Recycling centre in Pulau Tinggi

Besides Pulau Tinggi, improvements have also been made to the Pulau Sibu community recycling centre. With the support volunteers from the Johor State Education Department, the recycling centre now has a new and fresher look. We hope these enhancements will encourage visitors, local community and tourists to explore the facility and gain a deeper understanding of the recycling initiatives in the Mersing islands.

South of Johor: October - December 2024

Bringing Mangroves to Life: School-Based Nursery

28 students from Standards 1–3, along with 5 teachers and 2 PITSB (sponsors) volunteers, participated in a session to set up a mini mangrove nursery at SK Kampung Baru Pasir Gogok. The students and teachers prepared soil bags, labelled, and planted 42 mangrove propagules (seedlings). This activity allows students to understand the importance of mangrove nurseries as part of mangrove conservation initiative and how to care for the plants to ensure they grow healthily. 

One month later, a brief monitoring was conducted and the propagules showed positive growth. 30 more propagules were planted, bringing the total to 72.  

Students briefed before planting the mangrove propagule

The mangrove propagules growth after 1 month

Cintai Tioman: October - December 2024

Successful completion of a year-long school program

In this final quarter, our Cintai Tioman team conducted 3 school programs with SK Mukut and SK Tekek, involving both indoor and outdoor activities.

In 2024, we successfully conducted a total of 25 school education and awareness programs with schools on Tioman Island. This program aims to increase students' awareness and understanding of the importance of protecting the environment. This effort is expected to produce a younger generation that is more sensitive and responsible towards the environment, as well as having the potential to become leaders in conservation efforts in the future.

Classroom awareness session in one of the schools on Tioman

CLIMATE AND WEATHER CHANGE ROADSHOW IN TIOMAN ISLAND

From October to December, we organized a Climate Change and Weather Roadshow in seven villages around Pulau Tioman. The program aims to provide exposure to the local community on the challenges of climate change and how they can respond to this issue through a community-based approach. Through discussion and presentation sessions, our colleagues interacted with the local community, sharing knowledge learnt from attending a Climate Change Workshop in early 2024. 

PARTNERS IN CONSERVATION

In October, we were once again invited by International School Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) to share about TMCG’s conservation efforts. Students from ISKL gained hands-on experience by participating in recycling efforts, beach cleaning and coral rehabilitation on the island.

ISKL students after their beach clean-up

We also hosted Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia, who has been supporting our conservation efforts for the second consecutive year. Volunteers from the company learned the entire process of reef rehabilitation, including cleaning glass bottles, crushing the glass, and finally forming coral blocks. In addition, they also participated in beach cleaning activities and managed to collect 380kg of trash including ghost nets which are dangerous to marine life.

Mitsubishi Motors team members removing a ghost net

rehabilitation, cleanup and microplastic study

Every month, members of the Tioman Marine Conservation Group (TMCG) carry out regular cleaning and scheduled monitoring at our reef rehabilitation sites to ensure the growth and health of the corals. To protect corals that are undergoing bleaching and reduce the risk of further damage, physical contact with corals is not allowed.

TMCG member cleaning the reef rehabilitation frames

Similar to the third quarter, there was a decrease in complaints about ghost nets in the waters of Pulau Tioman in the last three months of 2024. The TMCG, together with the Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DoF) and scuba diving shops teams up to removed ghost nets around Tioman, upon receiving reports of it. A total of 2,945kg of ghost nets were successfully removed from the waters of Pulau Tioman this year.

Our TMCG has also been conducting microplastics sampling in four selected areas around Tioman, with a total collection of 62 samples. Microplastic waste is fine pieces of plastic less than five (5) millimeters in size that are almost invisible to the naked eye and are everywhere. The results of the findings show that there is a decrease in the amount of microplastics found in the area. These findings are important to improve understanding of microplastic pollution as well as help design more effective prevention measures that contribute to the conservation of our marine ecosystem.

Retrieved ghost nets being sent for proper disposal

From a Broken Leg to Stronger Community Participation: A Year in Review

Reflections on a year that passed so fast…

…that it barely seems like yesterday that I returned from a trip to the UK in the middle of January…with a broken leg, still!

This has been quite a momentous year for RCM. We have achieved so much it is difficult to summarise it easily. But here goes!!

Meaningful local community participation (CMCG)

This year has been hugely important for Reef Check Malaysia – or perhaps I should say, communities. Our model for community participation in conservation, the Community Marine Conservation Groups (CMCGs), has proven to be a very important vehicle to empower local communities to participate in managing the resources on which they all rely – be it as a food source, or for livelihoods in tourism.

Two CMCGs in one picture - TMCG and RMCG

From a modest beginning in Tioman (in 2015), we now work with communities in eight locations, providing training in conservation activities such as ghost net removal, coral predator control, monitoring and so much more.

CMCGs are making a real contribution to the health of the marine environment. Mobilising community support is critical in raising awareness among local communities of the need to manage marine resources, and their participation greatly strengthens our work. We hope to be able to expand the network of CMCGs next year.

Are our reefs in decline?

Of growing concern however, the results of our 2024 survey programme highlight the continuing decline in coral reefs around Malaysia.

And this year it has not just been local threats that reefs have had to deal with. The coral bleaching event this year – recognised as the fourth global bleaching event – has had a significant impact on reef health, with up to 80% of corals bleached at the height of the event, and an estimated 30% coral mortality in some areas.

Our reefs faced the 4th mass coral bleaching phenomenon this year

Urgent action is required now to reduce local threats (such as sewage pollution, land clearing and tourism impacts) if reefs are to have any chance of surviving in the long term. It’s that serious.

Reefs provide us with food; they are important in tourism; and they inspire us with their diversity and beauty. We need them.

Funding for biodiversity conservation

I was privileged to attend COP 16, the biodiversity conference, in Cali, Columbia, in October. It was interesting – and concerning – to hear a constant message: we are facing a biodiversity crisis.

Species and habitat decline continues, despite the best efforts of many, and it was widely recognised at the conference that action is required right now.

Unfortunately…no-one seems to know the best approach. Lots of presentations about what can be done…but we seem to lack the political commitment to take the actions required.

And the necessary funding is not forthcoming. In particular there is huge interest in the emerging field of biodiversity stewardship – not credits, like carbon, but some sort of certification that can unlock funding for biodiversity conservation. It’s something we are following closely, and we will be putting more resources into this next year.

Malaysia’s funding for biodiversity conservation

One thing worth highlighting here: Malaysia is blessed that the Federal government is able to provide significant funding for biodiversity conservation.

This year the Ecological Fiscal Transfer (EFT) scheme allocated RM 150 million to States for improving resource management. Ok, it’s not perfect – but it’s better than most countries are able to do.

Speaking to people from many countries at COP 16, I didn’t find any other country that is spending so much. Kudos to YB Nik Nazmi and his team at NRES for managing this effort, and we stand ready to work with them to strengthen the scheme.

We were also able to present YB Nik Nazmi with a copy of our Reef Rehabilitation Toolkit

looking forward: Strengthening Community participation

Looking forward to 2025, we will be starting two new long-term programmes to further strengthen the role of local stakeholders in marine resource management. Funding from Oceans 5 and Paul M Angell Family Foundation will allow us to build capacity in management at State and island levels, and we hope to work with agencies at State and Federal level to create a role for local stakeholders in management.

These programmes will also allow us to look into more sustainable, long-term funding opportunities, broadening our funding base.

Our vision for the future? Healthy reefs make for healthy communities, and we want to see better management supported by local stakeholders. That’s what we will be focusing on for 2025.

Best wishes for the festive season, and let’s hope that 2025 marks a turning point in how we manage these important ecosystems. We all rely on them, we all have a stake, we should all be involved.

Our Gratitude for Your Support

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our many supporters, without whom none of this would have been possible.

Our long-term programmes in Tioman (Yayasan Sime Darby), Mersing (MISC Group), Redang (Yayasan Hasanah, NCTF) and Sabah (IKI, KePKAS, Coca-Cola Foundation) are not only important in their own right, but also provide a platform that enables us to do so much more with local communities, often supported by smaller sponsorships from local companies. And let’s not forget the private individuals who collectively provide around 10% of our funding.

And last but not least all those volunteers who participate in surveys, giving back to an environment they all cherish. A huge thanks to all of you for your on-going support.

Oh, and the leg is fixed now!!

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If you'd like to support us, you can follow our social media pages for any updates on our work and volunteering opportunities, or you could also donate towards our cause.

Sabah Updates: July - September 2024

tackling coral bleaching around sabah

In the last three months, our colleagues in Sabah have been conducting coral bleaching monitoring in many sites, with results that show varying levels of bleaching. The surveys were done with the help of members of our Community Marine Conservation Groups, as well as volunteers from partners such as Sabah Parks and the Borneo Marine Research Institute (BMRI) of Universiti Malaysia Sabah. Each site is marked with a stake to ease identification for the next monitoring trip.

Some sites show low levels of bleaching, such as those in Mabul Island. Other sites such as in Larapan showed moderate bleaching while sites around Sepanggar still showed high levels of bleaching. Several of these sites showed signs of damage from trash, fish bombing, usage of anchors and even drupella predation.

A diver monitoring the reefs for bleaching using a quadrat

Over 70% of foliose corals bleaching in Mamutik Island, KK

kota kinabalu

Keeping our seas tangle-Free: Removal of Ghost Nets

In conjunction with PADI Women’s Dive Day in July, RCM alongside Marine Research Foundation (MRF) and Sabah Dive Rangers conducted a ghost net clean-up in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (TARP). A total of 13 divers worked together to remove two huge nets, which was disposed of with the help of Sabah Parks.

In September, RCM together with the Marine Research Foundation (MRF), in partnership with Sabah Parks, Sabah Dive Rangers and SJ SEAS successfully organised a ghost net removal programme in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (TARP). The programme was funded by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah (KePKAS), and the boats were sponsored by Scuba Junkie Seas. On the first day of the program, a recce dive was done to verify the location and depth of the ghost nets, as well as mark them with buoys. Over the next two days, the team of 25 divers worked hard to successfully remove more than 100kgs of ghost nets.  

Net removal in conjunction with PADI Women's Dive Day

A diver gently removing a net without damaging the reef

collaborating with stakeholders: Effective Environmental Management

In mid-July, our KK colleagues conducted the annual Green Fins assessment of dive centres in Sabah. This year, 3 new centres were certified under Green Fins, while 2 others continued their efforts as a Green Fins member. The Tropical Research and Conservation Centre (TRACC) achieved new heights by attaining the Gold Membership and are also in the midst of getting their PADI Eco Centre certification. Green Fins members agree to adopt a 15-Point Code of Conduct which serves as a guide to help them run their operations in an environmentally-friendly and sustainable manner.

A group photo of Nadhirah from RCM (standing, second from the right) during the Green Fins session at TRACC

In mid-August, RCM was invited to the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) workshop organised by DHI and Sabah Environment Protection Department (EPD). The focus of the workshop was to revise the SMP prepared in 2005 with:

- the latest data on identified Environmental Sensitive Areas
- implementation of the use of GIS for mapping purposes, and
- the inclusion of new and existing strategy plans.

RCM will contribute by providing data on coral reef health status within RCM survey sites, map of reported coral bleaching incidents in 2024 and reported fish bombing incidents from 2019 to 2023.

Mantanani island

Monthly Programs Engage Students and Boost Knowledge

Diana, our colleague on Mantanani has been spending time with students of SK Pulau Mantanani. In the first week of July, she conducted a school education program with 108 students from Standard 1 to 6, who were joined by 6 of their teachers. Diana shared about the different animals that can be found in coral reef areas, the benefits these animals bring to the reef ecosystem and the threats these animals face. In August, another session was held for Standard 4 to Standard 6 students, who were exposed to the life of dugongs, and their role and importance to the marine ecosystem. The highlight of September was an interactive learning session on the Crown of Thorns Starfish, for 40 Standard 6 students. 

Waste management insights

In early July, Diana conducted an assessment through Googles Forms, to collect feedback on the Mantanani Waste Management Program. 145 local households participated in the survey, the outcome of which will be shared soon. In mid-August, Diana and the locals on Mantanani who assist with the Waste Management Program collected close to 630kg of trash, including plastic waste which was separated to be recycled. All the trash and recyclable waste collected was sent out from the island to the Kayu Madang landfill in Tuaran (mainland) through the rental of a RORO Bin from Majlis Daerah Kota Belud (MKDB).

Diana (right) conducting the assessment with an islander

Trash and waste ready to be transported out of the island

semporna

community-led sea patrolling project kicks off with a great start

In Selakan Island, the Selakan Marine Conservation Group (SMCG) initiated the community-led sea patrolling project in early July. During this patrolling session, they engaged with two fishermen (from mainland) who were seen fishing within the community managed area. The team from SMCG had a very practical approach: they engaged all the fishermen in a respectful manner, took some time to conduct a simple interview, explained the concept of the community managed area (to protect the marine resources around the island and ensure its sustainability) and advised the fishermen against fishing in the area.

By mid-July, this effort was making great progress. The SMCG had prevented 12 boats from encroaching into the community managed area in Selakan Island, two of which were fish bombing boats. One of those boats were also found with many giant clams, and they were issued a warning. The team also reminded these fishermen that any future fishing activities within this area would be deemed as illegal fishing.

Boat filled with giant clams issued a warning from a SMCG member

Empowering Minds: Diverse marine Education and Awareness Initiatives

In mid-July and early August, our Semporna team participated in the ‘School Awareness Roadshow with Silam Coast Conservation Area (SCCA)’, involving 8 schools around Semporna and Kunak. The roadshow had participation from almost 500 students, ranging from year 4 to 6 and Form 4 to 5. RCM was joined by members of the Kulapuan Marine Conservation Group (KMCG), Larapan Marine Conservation Group (LMCG), and Pemimpin Belia IKLIM Mabul. Together with SCCA, RCM also prepared an exhibition on wild animals and corals, which was used as we shared stories with the students and teachers during smaller group interactions.

In another event in July, RCM with our community partner from Green Semporna prepared an exhibition booth during the ‘Jelajah I Hijau’ organized by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Kementerian Kerajaan Tempatan dan Perumahan - KKTP)  and the District Council of Semporna. The event, open for the public, was held at the Semporna Community Hall. RCM set up an exhibition booth, delivered a presentation as well as conducted interactive games for more than 200 school children. Our youths from Larapan, Mabul, and Kulapuan were also present to share more about their coral restoration and conservation works funded by the IKI Small Grants program.

RCM's intern presenting about coral reefs

Students participating in an activity at our 'Jelajah I Hijau' booth

Reef Restoration: Collaborative Efforts Led by local groups

Our Semporna team headed to Selakan Island in July to conduct the monthly reef restoration maintenance and coral growth monitoring. The trip was led by the SMCG (Selakan Marine Conservation Group) and joined by RCM’s interns and 4 other volunteers, two of whom were from Sabah Parks. Almost one year since its first deployment, the corals appear to be growing well and more fish can be found around the area.

Meanwhile the KMCG (Kulapuan Marine Conservation Group) once again deployed another 734 bottle reefs over 4 days, resulting in a total of over 1,000 bottle reefs to date. This project is funded by IKI Small Grants program for coral restoration activities in Semporna Island. Apart from the bottle reefs, KMCG also deployed and regularly maintained over 400 coral fragments on 30 Reef Stars and over a thousand coral fragments using the Coral Culture Table. 

SMCG members conducting maintenance and monitoring

Bottle Reefs prepared by the KMCG

Guardians of Marine Life: Make way for our new park rangers!

We’re proud to announce that 9 members of the Selakan Marine Conservation Group (SMCG) have been elected as Honorary Park Rangers under Sabah Parks. They participated in a 3-day Honorary Park Ranger Training at the Sabah Parks Office, in Tun Sakaran Marine Park. The trained youths are now able to enforce Section 48 under the Parks Enactment 1984 which is to protect the integrity of the park’s natural resources from any damages or illegal alterations. The training was conducted as a part of the Sea Patrolling project funded by The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.

uniting for a cleaner mabul

In mid-July, our colleagues participated in a meeting between the Mabul Island Waste Management Committee (Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Kebersihan Pulau Mabul) and tourism operators on Mabul Island. Nine operators attended the discussion on finding a solution to support the current waste management and clean-up efforts. One suggestion was for the resorts on the island to contribute RM300 – RM500 per month to finance the efforts. The meeting was also attended by representatives from Majlis Daerah and Pejabat Daerah, as well as from KEPKAS (Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah).

The committee led by the Village Head, Mr Hj Yusof, conducts a weekly clean-up since July, in collaboration with the local islanders, the Semporna District Council, RCM and Amwil Deslen Management and Supplies PLT. The waste is collected in 6 zones and a “Jongkong” is used to transport the waste to mainland Semporna, to be handed to the Semporna District Council or to the disposal centre at Kg Sri Aman. As of August, participants of the cleanup have collected as much as 55,325 kg of waste from the beaches in Mabul.

A before photo of one of the clean-up locations

An after photo of one of the clean-up locations

Facilitating Marine Awareness: CEPA Workshop Collaboration

Reef Check Malaysia was invited as facilitators by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation to help facilitate a workshop on CEPA Development for Sarawak. The two-day workshop that was held in Kuching, involved identifying marine issues in Sarawak that requires public awareness, developing modules and content, as well as designing activities for the module. At the end of the workshop, the participants presented and discussed their ideas to solidify the module before the actual module development.   

Cintai Mersing: July - September 2024

Guardians of the Coast: United for Beach and Underwater Clean-Ups

Between July and September, our Mersing team conducted and co-organised four underwater clean-ups at Pulau Tinggi, Pulau Besar and Pulau Harimau and removed a total of 293kg of ghost nets and marine debris from the reefs. Over 35 divers joined the underwater cleanups that were conducted in collaboration with various local organisation and communities which includes the Mersing District Council, Johor National Parks, Department of Fisheries Johor, Mersing Tourism Association, Tengah Island Conservation, Pulau Besar and Pulau Tinggi communities, and Mersing’s local community.

Local community removing a ghost net stuck to a reef

Community Recycling Takes Off with Strong Local Support

We have launched the Pulau Aur community recycling programme by installing nine recycling bins made from BRC wire mesh. Each bin was built together with the island community and placed at various locations throughout two villages, where population density is among the highest. This recycling initiative was developed based on previous community consultation sessions with the island community. It aims to improve waste management on the island by focusing on recyclable items such as plastic bottles, metal cans, aluminium tins, and glass bottles.

In the coming months, we will be conducting community consultations to gather feedback on the current recycling programme. We hope that with the continued support and participation of the island community, this recycling programme will become an integral part of Pulau Aur's waste management efforts.

A recycling bin placed around one of the villages

South of Johor: July - September 2024

Hands-On Marine and Ecosystem Education for South of Johor's Youth

This quarter, we conducted several indoor and outdoor education and awareness programmes for the two schools we work with. We engaged with almost 70 students from SK Kampung Baru Pasir Gogok in several indoor sessions, covering topics such as an introduction to the marine ecosystem in South of Johor, an in depth exploration of coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass as well as the importance of marine sanctuaries. Towards the end of these sessions, 39 of these students had the opportunity to attend a school trip to the Sarang Buaya Pasir Gudang, a marine sanctuary.

We also had an indoor awareness session for more than 100 Form Four students of SMK Pengerang Utama, and 40 of them were selected for a visit to the Sarang Buaya Pasir Gudang. They had the opportunity to watch an interactive reptile show, explore and observe the mangrove habitat as well as learn about their ecological importance. All these activities aimed to introduce the various ecosystems found in Johor as well as cultivate a better appreciation of their significance through visits to these ecosystems. We would like to thank PITSB (Pengerang Integrated Terminals Sdn. Bhd) for their participation and support in making these activities a success.

Students during a hands-on session on mangrove seedlings

SMK Pengerang Utama students at the Sarang Buaya Pasir Gudang

Seagrass monitoring to pave the way for conservation

The second quarterly seagrass monitoring at Tanjung Kopok involved nine volunteers from DIALOG. This monitoring activity is part of an ongoing initiative to observe changes in seagrass cover near the Johor River as a component of a long-term seagrass conservation program in southern Johor.

After completing the monitoring activity, volunteers were taken on an educational boat tour to explore the uniqueness of the mangrove forest found along the Johor river and its significance to the local marine habitat and community livelihood.

Volunteers conducting seagrass monitoring

Engaging Communities to Protect Johor's Seagrass and Mangroves

Our team in Johor has also expanded community consultations with representatives from Kampung Tanjung Langsat, a neighbouring village adjacent to Kampung Perigi Acheh. The aim is to introduce Reef Check Malaysia’s ongoing marine conservation program in the area and discuss potential environmental initiatives that can be conducted collaboratively to enhance local community awareness of the seagrass and mangrove ecosystems along the Johor River. We seek further collaboration, particularly in community and school activities.

Engaging a few local community members

Consultation session at a local household

Cintai Tioman: July - September 2024

Monthly Monitoring Safeguards Coral Reef Health

Every month, members of the Tioman Marine Conservation Group (TMCG) carry out regular monitoring and cleaning at the reef rehabilitation sites to check on the growth and health of the corals. In order to protect corals that are undergoing bleaching, physical contact with corals is not allowed, to reduce the risk of further damage as well as from threats that can hinder their growth and recovery process. Healthy coral reefs not only provide habitat for various marine species, but also play a role in stabilizing marine ecosystems and protecting beaches from erosion. 

A reef rehabilitation site showing positive progress and growth

Engaging Island Students in Ecosystem Conservation

In the third quarter of 2024, we conducted 10 school programs with schools on the island, exposing the students to a variety of interactive and fun educational activities. These programs are specifically designed to give students in-depth knowledge as well as increase their awareness of the importance of protecting their island's ecosystem. Among the topics discussed include climate change, coral reef conservation, and the importance of protecting marine life. This continuous effort is hoped to produce more students who are sensitive to environmental issues and become leaders in conservation efforts in the future.

addressing persistent threats to coral reefs

Ghost nets and Crown-of-Thorns starfish (COTs) have been a problem in Tioman Island for several years. The TMCG are consistently receiving reports of both these threats and they work together with local stakeholders to address the issue immediately. In this last quarter, although the number of ghost net reports have reduced, our team together with scuba diving shops and the local community managed to remove 1,500kg of ghost nets from the waters around Tioman. If left behind, these nets can cause damage to coral reefs and endanger marine life such as turtles, crabs, and dolphins that get entangled and eventually die.

We have also been actively implementing control measures for the population of the Crown of Thorns starfish. This action involves delivering a lethal injection to the Crown of Thorns, to ensure a balanced ecosystem and the sustainability of marine life. Previously, we have also collected these predators and brought them back to land where they are buried. Such efforts are crucial, especially during bleaching episodes when coral reefs are most vulnerable to damage. 

TMCG and local stakeholders with the ghost nets removed

A diver delivering a lethal injection to a COT

Hands-On Conservation and Environmental Stewardship

In August, our Tioman colleagues hosted a team from ETIKA HOLDINGS, marking the second year of partnership for volunteer activities. During this three day visit, the volunteers were involved in several conservation activities aimed at protecting and preserving the environment on Tioman Island, including population control of the Crown of Thorns starfish (COTs). The presence of volunteers from ETIKA HOLDINGS has had a positive impact not only on the ecosystem but also on the local communities involved, and helped increased awareness among the volunteers themselves.

In September, we carried out a conservation program with IGB International School who visited the island. The participants helped clean and crush glass bottles using a glass crusher, which helps reduce waste and contribute towards effective waste management. The crushed glass pieces were used to make coral pots, which will be used in our reef rehabilitation efforts. This activity not only gives students practical experience but also emphasizes our responsibility to protect and preserve the environment.

Students cleaning glass bottles before crushing them

Kod Blue: Laut Needs You 2024

Kod Blue 2024 volunteers all ready to do their cleanups

Reef Check Malaysia’s Kod Blue: Laut Needs You 2024 (Kod Blue 2024) is part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) effort. This is the second year RCM has organised this event, which included activities such as a conservation talk by RCM’s Chief Programs Officer, Alvin Chelliah, a special 'Action Camera Underwater Videography' workshop by Reef Check Malaysia’s ambassador, Baki Zainal, a beach and underwater cleanup, a 'Pasar Malam Mesra Alam' offering local delicacies from the Tioman Island community, a glass crusher and coral block workshop, and a movie night.

The objective of the event is to spread awareness about the issue of marine debris while bringing together the general public and the local community of Tioman Island. “Kod Blue” is an homage to the term used to mean 'emergency' in the medical field, and ‘blue’ is also a nod to the ocean.

The success of the event would not have been possible without the dedication of all volunteers, partners and sponsors. Kod Blue 2024 was supported by sponsors including Migalabs, Diamond & Platinum, REEF, Bose, Sol Sauce Sunscreen, Akkord Scents, Nautika Scuba Centre, B&J Diving Centre, Small Towns Malaysia, Ryan’s Special Needs Care Centre, Garmin Malaysia, Cowa, MobyTek, and Nazri’s Place.

We also would like to thank our ambassadors, Sharifah Sofia and Baki Zainal, all of our volunteers including representatives from the Tioman Marine Conservation Group (TMCG), Tioman Development Authority, Department of Fisheries (DOF), Alam Flora, SWCORP ROMPIN, PERHILITAN Department, Tioman Police, SMK Tekek (Nature Lovers Club), and Malaysia Civil Defence Force for participating in our cleanup effort.

Kod Blue 2024 participants also removed Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS) which are coral predators

Marine debris is a serious issue that has been plaguing our seas for a very long time. Here is a quick video recap of Kod Blue 2024 and why we come together to clean up our marine environment.

Cintai Redang: July - September 2024

Skills Training to Contribute to Marine Conservation Activities

In July and August, 7 members of the Redang Marine Conservation Group (RMCG) completed their training and are now certified EcoDivers. The training was conducted in three sessions at DM Scuba Dive Centre and RCM Redang office. The training included components such as classroom learning and mock surveys (Fish ID, Invertebrate ID and Substrate ID). To date, 12 RMCG members have been trained as EcoDivers and they help conduct surveys in and around Redang Island.

Asma with a trainee EcoDiver during a mock survey

In September, RMCG representatives went to Pulau Lang Tengah to train 3 members of the Pulihara team as EcoDivers. All 3 trainees successfully completed the course and passed the exam. They are now ready to contribute their effort and knowledge in collecting coral reef health data in Pulau Lang Tengah.

Marine awareness programs catches interest of younger generation

In mid-August, RCM staff, Asma and Muhaimin conducted several educational and awareness programs for the local kids of Redang Island. We had an interactive session with 15 kindergarten kids, teaching them about coral reefs and marine life, followed by some videos and a quiz. A similar program was held for students aged 9-12, where they were taught about hard and soft corals. 12 of these students were then brought out to the sea for a snorkelling session with RMCG members, to identify these corals. 

During the outdoor waste management awareness activity, participants aged 9-12 years old were brought on a jungle trekking trip while picking up rubbish from Teluk Dalam to Long Beach. They also had the opportunity to visit the waste machine in Long Beach and were briefed on the waste management efforts in Redang.

Muhaimin interacting with the kindergarten students

Jungle trekking session

We also conducted an awareness session on ‘Recycling” at Balairaya Kampung Pulau Redang, attended by 14 students, during which they were briefed on the process of recycling and ways to reduce the production of trash.

Engaging Stakeholders: Partnerships in Action

Our RCM team from Redang attended the Majlis Perasmian Eco-Schools Terengganu, which was held in conjunction with Word Nature Convention Day. Eco-Schools Terengganu is funded by Yayasan Petronas and other agencies, including the Ministry of Education and the Terengganu State Education Department. The event provided a platform for Reef Check Malaysia to showcase the coral reef conservation we have been carrying out, and to share knowledge and experiences while educating the public about the importance of preserving our marine ecosystems.

Muhaimin and Asma at the 'Majlis Perasmian Eco Schools'

In September, RMCG representatives conducted a site visit to Pulau Rhu for the final steps of Pulau Rhu gazettement as state park, which includes the component of establishing the boundary line in Pulau Rhu waters. The visit also involved representative from JUPEM, Majlis Daerah Besut, and Terengganu State Park.

protecting our reefs: tracking and monitoring efforts

Our team has been working hard to complete the annual Reef Check surveys around Redang. In early of July, a team led by our Redang colleagues and 4 EcoDivers successfully completed surveys at 6 sites in Tenggol Island. A few weeks later, members of RMCG, TMCG and a few EcoDivers surveyed 12 sites around redang, during which they noticed that the number of sites affected by bleaching were still high. In early August, RMCG members together with volunteers conducted surveys at 6 sites around Bidong and Yu Island.

Our RMCG team also conducted biodiversity monitoring in 12 sites which across 5 islands, namely Redang, Bidong, Geluk, Bara and Lang Tengah. The surveys that were conducted by RMCG took 4 days, during which we gathered information on the biodiversity of the sites to help us understand its current situation.

Meanwhile, the coral bleaching monitoring survey conducted by the RMCG team indicates thus far that that coral bleaching in Redang is still at a severe phase.

We have also regularly monitored our reef rehabilitation sites, to collect data on their survival and growth rate. While monitoring, we also maintained the sites by brushing off algae to reduce stress to our coral fragments. We have not planted any additional corals due to the restriction of activities during the coral bleaching episodes.

Coral reef bleaching survey in progress

Monitoring and maintenance of reef rehabilitation site

Reflections on my trip to Hawaii

EcoDiver Training in Hawaii

I’ve been in Hawaii for two weeks now, helping a fledgling Reef Check Hawaii to get established. I haven’t actually done much training recently – or diving, come to that! But it’s been reassuring that it comes back quickly!

Diving here is interesting. The reefs are not as diverse as in Malaysia—not surprisingly, given that Malaysia is part of the Coral Triangle. But the water quality is great, and there are ample opportunities to spot mega fauna. Two days ago, a manta ray slid slowly past our team while we were doing surveys; today, a 4-metre tiger shark came to visit the team on a training dive!

A Manta Ray swam past us

The Goal of the EcoDiver Training in Hawaii

Our primary goal is to get a team of divers certified up to EcoDiver Trainer, so they can build a bigger team. That is going amazingly well, and the local team – Brad Giles, Rachel Yoder and Adam Florea, have been very passionate and committed to the training – which we are somehow doing around their regular working shifts in the dive centre that is supporting this effort. So early starts and long days all round!

They have an ambitious goal to set up a survey programme covering some 90 sites by the middle of next year, focusing on the main island (which is often referred to as “the big island” but is actually called Hawaii) but also covering some of the other islands.

Marine Conservation in Hawaii

Hawaii is home to the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, the largest Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Hawaii and one of the largest in the world. It covers the Northwestern Hawaiin Islands. There is some monitoring going on at the other islands, mainly conducted by the Division of Aquatic Resources, which manages the state’s Marine Life Conservation Districts, which are the states MPAs. What RC Hawaii hopes to do is similar to what we are doing in Malaysia – getting volunteers involved as “citizen scientists” to provide more data on what is happening to the reefs around all the islands.

What is most interesting is the parallels between Hawaii and Malaysia. The threats to the reefs are the same – local threats such as pollution, over-fishing and impacts from tourism, and global threats such as climate change. There has historically been little involvement of local stakeholders in monitoring and management and the local indigenous population in Hawaii seems to be somewhat marginalised – sound familiar? But from what I have been told, they are keen to participate where possible – just as in our own islands in Malaysia.

One with the Hawaii team

Hopefully, this will be the start of a great partnership! I’m hopeful that I will be able to keep in touch with the team here, and share what we have learned about setting up a Reef Check operation in Malaysia – if nothing else so they can avoid the mistakes we made!!

Our gratitude to the Reef Check Foundation

Finally a quick word of thanks to Reef Check Foundation who helped to set this up, and who have done fund raising for it; and to Jack’s Diving Locker here in Kona, Hawaii, who have provided all the diving logistics for the training.

Good luck to the newest RC chapter – Reef Check Hawaii!

Look at that!

Next stop – to meet RC Dominican Republic and learn about their experience actually managing MPAs. After that – Cali, Colombia, to attend COP 16, the UN’s conference on biodiversity. As mentioned previously, it’s going to be a very interesting conference; COP 15 two years ago agreed biodiversity conservation targets; this time it’s about setting up the mechanisms and funding to make those targets real.

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If you'd like to support us, you can follow our social media pages for any updates on our work and volunteering opportunities, or you could also donate towards our cause.

Reef Check Malaysia will be attending COP 16

Representing Biodiversity at COP 16

So this is exciting news: I will be representing Reef Check Malaysia at COP 16 in Cali, Colombia from 21st October to 1st November!

I will join our partners, Pacific Environment and the other ASEAN team members from Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The regional team has been working together for nearly three years, supported by Pacific Environment, to advocate for greater protection of marine ecosystems. Specifically, we have been calling on our various national governments to support Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF, or just GBF)

I feel privileged to have this opportunity to meet with and learn from, some of the leading thinkers in biodiversity conservation. The link between global warming, climate change and biodiversity loss is increasingly being acknowledged; you only have to look at the current bleaching event affecting coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific – which is caused by greenhouse gas-linked ocean warming – to see the connection.

Reef Check Malaysia will be representing biodiversity at COP 16

What is COP 16?

Yeah, let’s deal with some of the jargon. “COP” simply stands for “Conference of the Parties" - in itself a bit of UN jargon that means a meeting of the signatories (or parties) to a given convention (or treaty).

The 16? That’s just the number of the meetings – they are held every 2 years.

So, at COP 16, the parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) will gather to discuss a variety of issues related to global efforts to protect and conserve biological diversity.

Not to be confused with…

There’s another COP happening soon which is COP 29, which will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November. That COP is the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Different topic – related, but different!!

History of the Convention on Biological Diversity

The Convention was adopted by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Convention on Biological Diversity in Nairobi in 1992. The Convention was open for signature during the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED – more commonly known as the “Earth Summit”) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992.

The Earth Summit, held on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the first Human Environment Conference (HEC), brought together political leaders, diplomats, scientists, media, and NGOs from 179 countries to respond to the impact of human socio-economic activities on the environment. We can date many of our current concerns about “the environment” to that Earth Summit.

Photo credit: United Nations

So, if you thought all this stuff was new…it isn’t!

It has a long history, going back to 1972. I was 11 years old! 52 years after the first HEC, and 32 years after the Earth Summit…what have we achieved?

Have a look at this website for more information on the Earth Summit, and the important discussions on sustainability.

Why am I going to COP 16?

Those of you who follow these issues will know that two years ago, at COP 15 in Montreal, parties agreed to a new set of biodiversity conservation targets.

One of the most contentious is Target 3, which sets a target to protect 30% of land and marine areas by the year 2030, the so-called “30x30 target”. Other targets cover the rights of indigenous people and local communities and funding for biodiversity conservation.

So, we have some targets. But how to achieve them? What programmes need to be implemented at the national level to make the targets real?

The National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans

That’s where the so-called NBSAPs come in. The National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans are national-level policies for achieving the GBF targets.

In Malaysia, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) is responsible for the National Policy on Biological Diversity, which essentially is Malaysia’s NBSAP.

We had the pleasure of meeting with YB Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad recently.

COP 16 Is About Taking Actions

If COP 15 was about setting the targets, COP 16 will be about how to achieve those targets. From The Nature Conservancy's website:

“The goal [of COP 16] is to transform the commitments of the 2022 GBF into actionable plans. Implementing the GBF demands global cooperation, recognizing biodiversity’s critical role in our economy, food security, climate stability, and planetary health. Ultimately, the decisions made at COP 16 will shape our planet’s future.”

And that’s why I am looking forward to attending, to understand what is going on at the policy level, and maybe even bring some ideas back to Malaysia.

I particularly want to learn more about how countries are going to fund biodiversity protection. Malaysia has made a good start with the annual Ecological Fiscal Transfers (EFTs), funds paid to States to help them protect their biodiversity.

But, much more funding is required if we are to address the imbalance in funding for biodiversity protection. As one of the "mega-biodiverse" countries, Malaysia has a lot to lose.

What about all that carbon?

As my brother is fond of reminding me, it seems somewhat ironic that a bunch of people professing to be interested in protecting the environment…are flying all over the world emitting carbon!!

I have no defence.

It is, in my opinion, a perfectly good argument. So, how do I justify it? That also has a pretty simple response.

Sometimes, more things get done if people get together to discuss issues. Sure, we all learned during COVID-19 that much can be achieved via virtual meetings and calls. But at the end of the day, sometimes you have to meet face to face…and given the importance of the topic, I think this is one of those times.

Follow along my journey at COP 16 soon!

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If you'd like to support us, you can follow our social media pages for any updates on our work and volunteering opportunities, or you could also donate towards our cause.

Rivers of Waste: It’s Time We Take Responsibility

We can put a man on the moon, but…

We can’t keep our rivers clean?

Today I had an opportunity to visit the interceptors near the river mouth of the Klang River. What an eye-opening experience.

Thanks to the team at The Ocean Cleanup for showing us around, and to our good friend Dr Yatela, Head of Yayasan Sime Darby, for inviting us to join her group.

It is us creating the problem, and it's us that are going to have make the difference.

The Ocean Interceptor

First, let me say that this is an amazing piece of technology.

Essentially it’s a barge anchored in the river. Upstream, booms across most of the width of the river allow boats to navigate the river, while channelling floating trash towards the “mouth” of this hungry beast!!

A conveyor belt picks up trash from the river flowing under the floating structure and deposits it into big skips. The contents of the skips are transferred regularly to the riverbank for disposal.

A conveyor belt picks up trash from the river

The interceptors – there are 2 in the Klang River, one sponsored by Coldplay, are efficient and effective…as much as they can be. In reality, operational limitations mean they only gather a small part of the waste that flows by.

The Ocean Interceptor that helps to clear trash from rivers

But it’s a start.  

My colleagues will be the first to tell you that I’m no photographer, but if this video doesn't shock you then I'm not sure we are part of the same branch of homo sapiens...

The Trash Filled Ocean

Further downstream – another boom, another pile of trash, mainly plastic, diverted from the river. We saw the riverbanks and mangroves littered with trash, sea birds picking their way through it.

Piles of trash

Ask yourself: where does all this come from?

Well, to try to answer that, waste management specialists – and our own research – show that there are 3 main sources: plastic trash can enter the environment from over-flowing trash bins on the street, or it is blown off landfills; there are also systemic problems leading to illegal dumping.

Ok, a bit simplistic, but you get the picture.

But basically, it is down to waste management and a culture that allows this to happen.

Where Does The Trash Come From?

We have to face facts: one way or another, they come from us.

All that plastic – and most of the trash collected by the interceptors is plastic – has at one time been used by us for something – packaging, single use plastics, detergent containers, sweet wrappers…the list is almost endless. And there is one reason, and one reason only, that it ends up in that river: us.

Frankly, seeing this, we should be ashamed of ourselves – Malaysians, human beings…whatever.

The trash comes from us

The Ocean Trash Problem is Created by Us

Is this what we really want? Is this how we want our rivers to be? And our ocean? And our beaches? Where do you think that plastic in our seafood is coming from?

It’s us!

The interceptors are doing a great job; lots of people are working hard on solutions to this seemingly intractable problem. But at the end of the day, they can only treat the symptoms – trash in rivers.

So, what is the cure?

The Solution to the Ocean Trash Problem is Us

If you ask me, it’s down to us. It is us creating the problem, and it's us that are going to have make the difference.

Used glass bottles are crushed to make sand and also reused to make coral blocks

I listen to what my colleagues tell me about what has happened on Tioman Island since Alam Flora took over the waste management system there. Before that, TDA had been doing a good job – but they didn’t have enough manpower and resources. Alam Flora changed that, and the island has become cleaner.

But it’s still a struggle to stop plastic from being released into the environment – even in a small community. Some of it blows out of full bins…some of it is litter. But they have shown that improvement is possible.

We just need the same, on a bigger scale!

We Need To Manage Our Waste Better

Let’s each take a bit of responsibility for our own actions; try that little bit harder to make sure our plastic waste doesn’t enter the environment.

Separate recyclables at home; find out when they will be collected (I do this at home; bins under the sink for paper, plastic and metal; and it’s collected every Thursday in my housing area) and at least help to make material available for recycling.

And STOP LITTERING!

If you want to throw your trash away…the bin is full...drop at the side? Stuff inside knowing it will fall out?

How about…take it to the next bin??? How difficult is that?

Whether it is at home, at work, in the mall…on the street – let’s try to help the government and local authorities in their efforts to improve waste management.

It is our environment, and ecosystems, that are at risk because of our habits

Again – it’s our habits that are largely the cause of this.

And it is our environment, and ecosystems, that are at risk because of this.

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If you'd like to support us, you can follow our social media pages for any updates on our work and volunteering opportunities, or you could also donate towards our cause.

Making Community-based Conservation Real: CMCGs

Community-based Conservation

Numerous reports and publications highlight the importance of involving local stakeholders in conservation of natural resources. There is plenty of evidence to indicate that conservation outcomes are improved if the people who rely on the resources are involved in making decisions on how those resources are protected.

Here’s an update on what Reef Check Malaysia is doing to make community participation a reality. There are numerous links to national policy (such as the National Policy on Biological Diversity) and international initiatives (including both the SDGs and the Global Biodiversity Framework).

Forming A Community-based Conservation Programme

Back in 2014 we opened our first field office on the island of Tioman, off the East coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Tioman was among the first batch of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) set up in 1994 and the protected area (the Marine Park) is essentially like a doughnut surrounding the island, out to a distance of 2 nautical miles (a little over 3.5 km) from low water mark. Responsibility for the island itself is a State matter, in accordance with the Malaysian constitution.

Our first goal was to look at ways to build resilience of both the island’s ecosystems and community in the face of growing impacts from climate change. We started by trying to develop a good understanding of the local community, its challenges and attitudes towards marine protection.

The Reasons Locals Could Not Participate in Marine Management

We quickly discovered that the local islanders, while supporting the idea of the Marine Park, were unhappy with the way the island was being managed because the Marine Park authority would not employ them.

Discussions with the Federal government agency responsible for the Marine Parks provided the reason: government hiring regulations require government employees to have a certain level of secondary education.

Since at the time, there was no secondary school on the island, and few families had the resources to send children to school on the mainland, many local islanders had only limited secondary education. Hence they were not eligible for employment.

Seems a little unfair, I know – but the government has to have regulations and procedures, right?

The Solution to Enable Locals to Participate in Marine Management

We also found out from our discussion with the Marine Park authority that they could employ local islanders on short-term contracts to help with specific projects and tasks.

Aha.

So we set about recruiting a group of islanders and training them up to be the best possible candidates to work alongside the Marine Parks authority.

Advanced-level diver certification, reef monitoring, reef rehabilitation, predator management, mooring buoy replacement, and ghost net removal – these are just some of the training we conducted.

Thus, the Tioman Marine Conservation Group (TMCG) was born. You can find their 2023 annual report here.

Tioman Islanders Protecting Tioman Island

From a small group of just six locals, the TMCG has now expanded to include a team of 85 local islanders with a group in each of the island’s 7 villages.

Removing ghostnets with TMCG

TMCG works closely with the Marine Park authority (now the Department of Fisheries Malaysia, DoF) as well as local tourism operators who highlight problems such as ghost nets and damaged moorings. The TMCG also conducts the annual coral reef monitoring surveys – which means it isn’t a bunch of outsiders coming to the island and telling the locals what is going wrong with the reefs, it is the local community monitoring its own reefs and then communicating with peers. It’s a much stronger message.

Plus – it’s financially beneficial. Whenever TMCG members participate in conservation programmes, they are paid a small allowance. So the message is: conservation pays. The TMCG programme is funded through a mixture of corporate philanthropy and donations.

The Success of Community Participation in Marine Conservation

And it’s working.

Monitoring data indicate that reefs in Tioman are in better condition than other similar areas. The local islanders are more strongly supportive of the Marine Park, because they understand what it is for, and they are engaged in looking after it.

Our own programmes on the island complement the conservation programmes that TMCG carries out. Green Fins assessments of dive operators, Green Hotels programme for resorts, education and awareness programmes – all these programmes support what the TMCG is doing. And slowly we are transferring those skills, too.

The next step will be to establish a local stakeholder representative body, to give the villagers a stronger voice in management. That’s what we are working on now.

Expanding The Community-based Conservation Programme

Turns out – Tioman was just the start. As we started to develop more contacts on other islands off the East coast – and later Sabah, we found a similar situation: local villagers who wanted to work for the Marine Park authorities but were excluded for structural reasons.

So we started to establish similar groups on other islands – and we work with other partners to help us scale the programme.

The Mersing Marine Conservation Group and the Redang Marine Conservation Group were both established by RCM as part of the local conservation programmes we were implementing. In Perhentian island, we are supporting a local NGO, Fuze Ecoteer, to build up their programme – called Anak Pulau (“Children of the Island”).

Redang Marine Conservation Group (RMCG) in action

In Sabah we are building similar local groups on Mantanani island, and on four islands around Semporna in the south of Sabah – Mabul, Larapan, Kulapuan and Selakan.

In all these locations, the groups are attracting amazing interest from local communities, and our team leads are able to help focus on the specific local challenges faced by these communities. In some areas, the problem is sheer number of tourists; in others it is destructive fishing methods. In all cases, local communities are participating in managing the resources they rely on.

Pretty cool!

Where RCM teams are based

Enter “Reef Care”

In 2020, the Department of Fisheries (DoF) put all this on a more formal footing when it introduced the Reef Care programme. This is a strategic partnership programme of DoF and specifically gives local partners responsibilities for small areas of reef adjacent to their location – the areas being defined in appointment documents. Partners include local community groups, NGOs and resort operators.

When the Reef Care programme was first launched, the TMCG and Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) were appointed as the Reef Care partners for Tioman. Since then RCM has applied to be Reef Care partners in both Mersing and Redang, to strengthen the existing community groups we had already established.

It is our hope that, like Tioman, these partnerships can be embedded in management, with the community marine conservation groups having a “seat at the table” in a new stakeholder representative body.

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If you'd like to support us, you can follow our social media pages for any updates on our work and volunteering opportunities, or you could also donate towards our cause.

Cintai Redang: April - June 2024

RMCG’s various clean up efforts

In April, our colleagues and members of the Redang Marine Conservation Group (RMCG) came together to remove a reported ghost net weighing 40kg. Following this dive, they also managed to remove almost 70 Crown-of-Thorns starfish, whose numbers appear to be increasing.

RMCG members also participated in the “Berakit Beach Clean Up” program, co-organised with the Department of Fisheries (DoF) and Kapas Conservation. The participants of this activity managed to collect more than 1,000kg of rubbish from Teluk Berakit, Kapas Island. All the waste collected was handed over to Majlis Perbandaran Daerah Marang for proper disposal.

Removal of a ghost net during the clean up

Clean up in progress during the “Berakit Beach Clean Up” program

reef check surveys progressing well with support of dedicated volunteers

Just like our colleagues in other locations, the team in Redang have been conducting Reef Check surveys and also coral bleaching monitoring surveys. In April, a few RMCG members monitored two sites for coral bleaching: the results showed some bleaching but nothing too severe. However, in June, more monitoring efforts were conducted in six more locations, revealing that majority of the corals in those sites were undergoing severe bleaching.

Divers during a coral bleaching monitoring survey

Reef Check survey in Perhentian Island

Throughout this last quarter, our Redang colleagues successfully completed the annual Reef Check surveys in Perhentian Island, Kapas Island and also Rhu Island. The survey team included volunteer EcoDivers and RMCG members.

Reef Health Boost: NEw rehabilitation frames in Pasir Akar

In early May, the RMCG members installed 60 frames for reef rehabilitation efforts in Pasir Akar, Redang. These steel frames were coated in cement and coral nubbins were attached to it. This particular site was chosen based on observation that the previous rehabilitation efforts here showed great progress in terms of coral growth. This effort is carried out to address the issue of dwindling coral health due to both natural factors and human-induced threats such as unsustainable tourism.

Installation of the reef rehabilitation frames

Multiple STakeholder engagement highlights focus on conservation

In June, our Cintai Redang colleagues represented RCM at the “SDG Summit 2024 Wilayah Timur” held in Universiti Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin. RCM has been working towards one of the 17 SDG goals, specifically SDG 14: “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”.

We also organised a consultation session with the various SCUBA dive operators on Redang Island, to gauge their feedback on ways to generate local income through conservation activities on the island. Our team also took the opportunity to discuss current RCM efforts on the island. A majority of these operators were very supportive of our work and will continue to participate in our activities too.

Towards the end of June, we conducted an awareness program with the students of SK Pulau Redang. Among the activities were a classroom presentation and discussion, as well as colouring and building their own marine ecosystem scenery. We were fortunate to have all the students of the school join us for this program, and we hope that these programs will be able to instill a sense of love and ownership of the marine environment among these students. 

Consultation session with a SCUBA dive operator

Awareness program with SK Pulau Redang