Interactive Map Brings Insight into Malaysia’s Coral Reef Health
KUALA LUMPUR, 28 APRIL 2025 – The 2024 Malaysia Coral Bleaching Impact Report released by Coralku and Reef Check Malaysia reveals the devastating impact of the 2024 global coral bleaching event on Malaysia’s coral reefs, highlighting urgent threats to marine biodiversity, reef health, and local economies.
These national findings are consistent with global trends. As reported by The Guardian, scientists have confirmed that the 2024 global coral bleaching event is the worst on record, affecting over 80% of the world’s reefs—a trend echoed in Malaysia’s own coral reef data.
In Malaysia, surveys conducted across Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah show that 50.7% of corals experienced bleaching, and an average of 34.1% suffered mortality. The northeastern region, particularly the Terengganu archipelago, was the most affected, experiencing mortality rates as high as 44.2% on average.
Malaysia faced the 4th mass coral bleaching phenomenon in 2024, and the effect is still felt today by the reefs
“Malaysian coral reefs are at a tipping point,” said Sebastian Szereday, the Founder of Coralku and lead author of the report. “The scale and severity of bleaching observed in 2024 underscores the vulnerability of our reefs to extreme and prolonged heat stress, with profound implications for marine life and reef-dependent communities.”
Szereday noted that unlike previous bleaching events in 2010 and 2019-2020, coral species with complex growth forms—crucial for reef structure and fish habitat—were disproportionately impacted in 2024, leading to a significant loss of three-dimensional reef complexity.
Chen Sue Yee, Science Officer at Reef Check Malaysia and co-lead author emphasized that while halting global warming requires international collaboration, urgent local and national actions are needed to support reef resilience.
“It is vital to take actions to support our weakened reefs. Measures such as eliminating land-based pollution—including untreated sewage, industrial waste, and agricultural runoff—and mitigating coastal development impacts like sedimentation and physical reef damage must be prioritized,” she said.
“We should also promote sustainable tourism to minimize direct physical harm to coral ecosystems and enhance local research capacity and community-led reef co-management. Our findings with Community Marine Conservation Groups (CMCGs) show that these approaches improve awareness, livelihoods, and reef’s health.”
CMCGs have been actively conducting coral bleaching monitoring survey
“Strengthening enforcement of no-take zones and fishing regulations is also essential to reduce exploitation and habitat destruction,” added Chen.
Lee Li Keat, a researcher at National University of Singapore, who is one of the co-authors of the report, suggested that research should focus on expanding standardized bleaching monitoring protocols to identify heat-resilient coral species and sites.
“Understanding the biological mechanisms behind coral resilience can inform restoration strategies and guide new interventions to help corals survive future thermal stress,” he said.
With scientists warning that up to 90% of coral reefs could vanish in the coming decades if warming continues unchecked, the 2024 Malaysia Coral Bleaching Impact Report serves as a stark reminder of what is at stake.
“Malaysia’s reefs are invaluable—not just as ecosystems but as sources of livelihoods, culture, and coastal protection,” the report concludes. “Immediate, coordinated action is essential to ensure they have a future.”
The 2024 Malaysia Coral Bleaching Impact Report is accessible through Reef Check Malaysia and Coralku’s respective websites.
KUALA LUMPUR, 18 OCTOBER 2024 – 8,569 volunteers from all around Malaysia collected 41,015kg of trash during the annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) event in September 2024.
Among 388,730 items collected, the most common item found was plastic bottles at 50,785 bottles. The second and third most common items were cigarette butts at 39,584 pieces and plastic/foam pieces at 38,801 pieces.
Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) coordinates the nationwide ICC in Malaysia every year since 2018. Organizations, groups and individuals collect data during the cleanup and key in data into the Clean Swell app to contribute to the global database of cleanups by Ocean Conservancy.
Tengku Zatashah, Princess Beach Cleanup in action
Y.A.M Tengku Zatashah binti Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, the princess of Selangor, who is also fondly known as ‘Princess Beach Cleanup’, also participated in this year’s ICC. “The International Coastal Cleanup is an event I look forward to every year since 2017. Participating in beach cleanups allows us to see the problem firsthand and take action to address it. I encourage everyone to do their part in keeping our oceans clean.” commented Tengku Zatashah who joined the ICC at Pantai Morib Baharu in Selangor this year.
Proud volunteers of Hapag-Lloyd Business Services Malaysia that cleaned up Pantai Batu 23
This year’s ICC was supported by Hapag-Llyod Business Services Malaysia and KPMG Malaysia. Hapag-Llyod Business Services Malaysia’s volunteers cleaned Pantai Batu 23 for ICC and collected 54.75 kg of trash. KPMG Malaysia chose to clean Pantai Remis, Kuala Selangor and collected 126.61kg of trash.
Coastal Cleanup is an event I look forward to every year since 2017. Participating in beach cleanups allows us to see the problem firsthand and take action to address it. I encourage everyone to do their part in keeping our oceans clean.” commented Tengku Zatashah who joined the ICC at Pantai Morib Baharu in Selangor this year.
KPMG volunteers cleared 126.61kg of trash from Pantai Remis
Reef Check Malaysia also held their Kod Blue: Laut Needs You event as part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC). Volunteers for Kod Blue 2024 which happened on 7 September at Kampung Air Batang, Tioman Island, collected 757.7kg of trash from the beach cleanup and 50.8kg of trash from the underwater cleanup. The underwater cleanup team also removed 62 coral predators, the Crown-of-Thorns starfish (COT).
All Kod Blue 2024 volunteers before the cleanups
“The objective of the event is to spread awareness about the issue of marine debris while bringing together the general public and the local community of Tioman Island,” said Theresa Ng, Chief Operating Officer of Reef Check Malaysia. “Kod Blue is an homage to the term used to mean ’emergency’ in the medical field, and ‘blue’ is also a nod to the ocean.”
The second event in the series featured a conservation talk by Reef Check Malaysia’s Chief Programmes Officer, Alvin Chelliah, a special ‘Action Camera Underwater Videography’ workshop by Reef Check Malaysia’s ambassador, Baki Zainal, a beach and underwater cleanup, a ‘Pasar Malam Mesra Alam’ offering local delicacies from the Tioman Island community, a glass crusher and coral block workshop, and a movie night.
Volunteers segregated trash according to types
The event was supported by sponsors including Migalabs, Diamond & Platinum, REEF, Bose, Sol Sauce Sunscreen, Akkord Scents, Nautika Scuba Centre, B&J Diving Centre, Small Towns Malaysia, Ryan’s Special Needs Care Centre, Garmin Malaysia, Cowa, MobyTek, and Nazri’s Place.
“We are grateful for our sponsors for their generous sponsorship and support for Kod Blue 2024.” commented Theresa.
“We also would like to thank our ambassadors, Sharifah Sofia and Baki Zainal, all of our volunteers including representatives from Tioman Development Authority, Department of Fisheries (DOF), Alam Flora, SWCORP ROMPIN, PERHILITAN Department, Tioman Police, SMK Tekek (Nature Lovers Club), and Malaysia Civil Defence Force for participating in our cleanup effort.” added Theresa.
A TMCG member who supported our cleanup weighed all trash collected
Every year, millions of tons of trash—including an estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic waste—flows into the ocean, impacting more than 800 marine species and even entering the food chain.
“When I first heard about Kod Blue 2024, I was excited, and I think it is a good chance to be part of conservation work with experts in the field. It was not easy to make time for this event, but I am very happy I did. I get to meet like-minded people, and I enjoy every second of the activities. I have a lot of takeaways from this event” commented Yvonne Jong, one of the underwater participants of Kod Blue 2024.
