Ghost nets are a huge and long-standing problem on Tioman Island. In just the first quarter of the year, RCM and the Tioman Marine Conservation Group (TMCG) received many reports of ghost nets found in a few locations around Tioman.

Together, they removed an estimated 900kg of these nets, during which 5 sharks were saved. However, there were also a few turtles and sharks that died as a result of being caught in these nets. The TMCG also removed a 1,300kg drift net from the beach in Tekek Village, in collaboration with Tekek Flora.

Aside from dealing with ghost nets, the TMCG has also been busy with the installation of new mooring buoys.

In collaboration with local snorkel guides who identified the necessary locations, the TMCG has installed 20 new buoys at several SCUBA diving and snorkeling spots around Tioman.

In a continuous effort to encourage resort operators on the island to conduct their business in an environmentally friendly manner, RCM introduced the ASEAN Green Hotel programme in 2016.

This assessment is a recognition of resorts that are evaluated and achieve the ASEAN tourism standards, which has been adopted by the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism and Culture. At the beginning of this year, our colleagues on the island evaluated 60 resorts, and we now have an additional 16 new resort that are a part of this programme.

We’ve also begun our school educational programme for the year, with both SMK Tekek and SK Tekek. Activities conducted during the programme include short sharing sessions, field trips, and plenty of hands-on sessions, to complement the classroom learning. Our team has also resumed swimming activities with the students of the “Program Pendidikan Khas Integrasi”, which was initiated last year.