In 2020, following a review of its activities over the last five years, RCM prepared a new five-year strategic plan for the period 2021-2025. The review confirmed that our vision is still very relevant today: “Sustainably managed coral reefs in Malaysia”. However, as a result of the review, we developed some new goals, which are much more specific than previously: it focuses on local stakeholder participation in management and building resilience of ecosystems and communities. A third goal looks at strengthening policy and legal frameworks to support improving marine resource management. To pursue this goal, we added a couple of new programme areas, one of which focuses on policy.

A quick google search on “Malaysian marine policy” quickly brings up a number of results…mainly lamenting the lack of any such policy! Back in 2019, Tun Mahathir spoke at the National Maritime Conference 2019 in Pulau Langkawi. He said that there is a need for an overarching maritime policy in Malaysia encompassing all aspects — including security, safety, economy and environment. Apparently, at the time Malaysia had no less than 15 federal laws and orders to manage its maritime space, while the enforcement of these laws is entrusted on 31 maritime-related agencies from more than 10 ministries. Numerous articles – both in the scientific press and the mainstream media – support the need to improve policies relating to marine conservation.

RCM is increasingly engaged in working with local communities to encourage participatory management of marine resources – through co-management systems, for example. There are plenty of examples from around the region that demonstrate that co-management creates better conservation outcomes. However, one of the greatest challenges we face is poor regulatory and policy support for the very concept of stakeholder participation. The strongest policy support comes in the form of the National Policy on Biological Diversity. Target 2 states that: By 2025, the contributions of indigenous peoples and local communities, civil society and the private sector to the conservation and sustainable utilisation of biodiversity have increased significantly. The first indicator calls for policy and legal provisions to be developed – by 2021. Still on such provisions.

As we emerge from the restrictions imposed by the covid pandemic and start to travel again – often to places with fragile ecosystems, let’s make sure that our recovery doesn’t damage the very places we want to visit. Let’s push for better policies to control visitor numbers, and reduce damaging activities. But most of all – let’s allow local stakeholders a say in how the resources they rely for their livelihoods are managed. Allowing them a say creates more buy-in and ownership – creating the better conservation outcomes mentioned previously.