A diver replanting corals on reusable glass bottles
In the third quarter of this year, our team on Tioman received several conservation volunteers from various sponsors and organisations, among which were Ambank Group, Ministry of Higher Education, SC Johnson & Sons (M) Sdn Bhd, Etika Sdn Bhd, KOSE, MIX FM & MY FM, and Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia.
Our colleague organised several activities, such as replanting of corals using reusable glass bottles. Approximately 700 corals were saved through this activity. Beach clean-up activities were conducted at Monkey Bay and Benut Bay, where 220kg of rubbish and 700kg of ghost nets were collected.
Volunteers preparing coral block
Ghost nets continue to “haunt” the waters of Tioman, as 1,266kg of these nets were removed from waters around Teluk Tedau, Teluk Bakau dan Teluk Nipah.
These discarded ghost nets found floating in the sea will entangle marine animals, causing them to eventually die from drowning, besides potentially cause damage to healthy coral reefs.
The removal of these nets were done together by members of the TMCG, local villagers and SCUBA Dive shops on the island.
A diver removing a ghost net caught on reefs
A few divers carrying the ghost nets collected, to dispose them
Our education programme with the students on the island continues, as our team visited two schools in the past quarter, talking about coral reefs, coastal ecosystems, and bats, which are a part of the ecosystem on Tioman.
Our colleagues also visited a few SCUBA Dive shops to conduct the Green Fins evaluation.
Green Fins members agreed to adhere to a 15-point Code of Conduct to reduce the negative impacts of divers and the diving industry on the marine environment. For more information, please visit https://greenfins.net/countries/malaysia.
Education and awareness programme in school
Green Fins evaluation with a dive shop on the island
In July, the Reef Check surveys were successfully completed in 18 sites around Tioman Island, with assistance from the Department of Fisheries on Tioman Island, volunteer EcoDivers and TMCG members.
Based on the surveys this year, it has been recorded that the reefs around Tioman are dominated by live coral cover - most of them being hard corals. These reef builders were recorded at 60.76% coverage, showing that the reefs around Tioman are healthy.
An EcoDiver conducting one of the surveys around Tioman
Our colleagues on the island were also campaigning against the proposed construction of the new airport on the island.
In July and August, they conducted meetings with the local villagers of Genting and Paya to explain to them the findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report. The villagers were constantly kept up to date with any progress, until the decision to cancel this construction was announced by the government.
Meeting with the local villagers regarding the airport proposal
Villagers of Kg Genting and Paya, Tioman Island celebrating the decision