Cintai Mersing Updates:
January – March 2026
Building Local Capacity
In Mersing, recent efforts have focused on building skills across both experienced guides and new community members. 21 participants took part in the Eco-Friendly Scuba Guide (EFSG) renewal programme, refreshing their understanding of marine ecosystems, park regulations, and responsible tourism practices. They also went through First Aid and CPR training, helping them be better prepared to respond to incidents out at sea.
Meanwhile, 12 new members joined the Mersing Marine Conservation Group (MMCG). Through introductory sessions, they were introduced to marine ecology, conservation work, and basic monitoring methods, which gives them a starting point to get involved on the ground. Moving forward, 10 of them will be signing up for their SCUBA license, followed by field-based experience with us, building up their confidence and skills over time.
Together, these efforts are about strengthening local capacity so that the conservation work in Mersing can continue to grow and be led by the community itself.
Participants who successfully competed the EFSG renewal programme
Theory class session with the potential MMCG members
Reef Health Update
The waters around Mersing continue to show both resilience and signs of pressure. 72 reef sites were monitored across the islands, through a joint effort with the Department of Fisheries (DoF), Tengah Island Conservation (TIC) and local community volunteers.
Overall, reef condition was classified as “Fair”, with a Live Coral Cover of almost 48%, down from “Good” in 2024. This decline is due to several factors, including coral bleaching, strong wave conditions as well as ongoing human impacts such as anchor damage, marine debris and ghost nets.
While these challenges are a concern, the reefs still show resilience and highlight the importance of continued monitoring, collaboration, and responsible practices moving forward.
Small Actions Along the Mersing Coast
At Pantai Bandar Mersing, 45 participants came together for a beach clean-up, collecting 566 kg of marine debris in just one session. It was a mix of everything, from plastic bottles, wrappers, fishing gear to foam. These types of waste slowly builds up and affects the coastline and the communities around it.
At the same time, efforts are also happening out at sea. Around Pulau Hujung, Pulau Tengah, and Pulau Besar, six mooring buoys were installed to give boats a proper place to anchor without damaging reefs and seagrass below. It’s a small change, but one that makes a real difference, especially in busy areas where repeated anchoring can take a toll on the marine ecosystems over time. Taken together, these collective efforts by several stakeholder groups are about reducing pressure on the marine environment in practical ways.
Participants collecting marine debris
Snorkelling operators assisting in installation of mooring buoys
Checkout these stories
From Depleted Seas to National Food Sovereignty: Bridging the Gap Between Policy and Reality
Of Coral Reefs and Food Security Just last week, I spoke about the relationship between coral reefs and food security, and how the Reef Check method assesses the health of coral reefs. You can read about it here. This week, it was discovered that the traditional...
Reflecting on 10 Years of Community Empowerment
The Beginning of CMCG The Tioman Marine Conservation Group has been successfully implementing conservation programmes for over 10 years now – all of it done by people from the local community who we have trained up. The group is now led by Shahir, our Programme...
Checking the Ocean’s Pulse: How the Reef Check Method Diagnoses Marine Health and Protects Local Livelihoods
Assessing The Health of Our Reefs Just like a doctor runs a diagnostic checkup on your health, marine conservationists use the standardised global Reef Check Survey Methodology to evaluate our underwater ecosystems. By deploying trained divers who are called EcoDivers...