Celebrating Our Oceans Through Learning

As part of the 2026 Ocean Celebration, RCM joined conservation partners and marine experts in Sabah to strengthen collaboration and share knowledge for healthier oceans.

Our team participated in hands-on training on MERMAID, a digital platform that helps streamline coral reef survey data, alongside students, government agencies and conservation organisations. We also took part in the World Ocean Day closing ceremony at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), where we showcased our conservation work in Sabah and promoted upcycled keychains handcrafted by the Selakan Marine Conservation Group. From building conservation skills to supporting community livelihoods, the celebration highlighted how collaboration can create lasting impact for both people and our oceans.

RCM’s booth at the closing ceremony

Working Together for Sabah’s Seas

Protecting our oceans takes strong partnerships. Over the past few months, Reef Check Malaysia has been working closely with KEPKAS, the Department of Fisheries Sabah, Sabah Parks, and other conservation partners to strengthen marine conservation across Sabah.

These discussions focused on preparing for future coral bleaching events, improving waste management in coastal communities, supporting sustainable tourism, and strengthening collaboration on reef monitoring and conservation. By sharing knowledge, coordinating response efforts and working alongside government agencies, we’re helping build a more resilient future for Sabah’s reefs and the communities that depend on them.

Keeping Mantanani Island Clean, One Bottle at a Time

Effective waste management is helping keep Mantanani Island cleaner while protecting the surrounding marine environment. Between April and June 2026, the community collected and transported more than 11.7 tonnes of plastic waste and 870 kg of other waste to the mainland for proper disposal.

During the same period, 22,989 plastic bottles were compressed for recycling, reducing their volume and making transport more efficient. Every bottle recycled and every kilogram of waste removed is part of a growing community effort to keep waste out of the ocean and build a cleaner, more sustainable future for Mantanani.

Boat transporting recyclables out to the mainland

Investing in Community Leaders

Strong communities are at the heart of successful conservation. In June, Reef Check Malaysia brought together 31 representatives from Community Marine Conservation Groups (CMCGs) across Sabah for a four-day capacity building workshop focused on leadership, communication, organisational management and conflict resolution.

Through hands-on activities, group discussions and practical simulations, participants strengthened the skills needed to lead their communities and conservation initiatives more effectively. By the end of the workshop, they demonstrated greater confidence, stronger teamwork and more structured approaches to solving challenges—laying an even stronger foundation for community-led marine conservation.