Sabah Updates:
July – September 2025
KOTA KINABALU
Our team in Kota Kinabalu has been actively engaging local schools and college students through various education and awareness programmes. In July, we conducted a marine education session with three primary schools, including SK Pulau Gaya—the only island-based school in Kota Kinabalu that we work with. Around the same time, we also spoke to about 200 new students at Likas Vocational College, where our colleague Nadhirah introduced Reef Check Malaysia and its programmes, explained the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and highlighted how Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) supports these goals in building a sustainable future.
In August, we continued our collaboration with the same three schools through a visit to the Aquarium and Marine Museum at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, organised together with the Borneo Marine Research Institute (BMRI). BMRI staff conducted engaging sessions on marine ecosystems and guided the students through the exhibits. Additionally, in partnership with Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, we held a marine awareness talk for students from two of their adopted schools. The session was lively and interactive, with enthusiastic participation from the students.
Demonstrating the “Catch and Release” game during a school program
Calvin showing the students around the UMS aquarium
A student during a quiz at the marine awareness program with Shangri-La Tanjung Aru
In September, RCM and the Larapan Marine Conservation Group (LMCG) welcomed two delegates from the High Commission of Canada — Mr. Robert Bissett and Mr. Dayalan Sundara Rajoo — during their visit to Larapan Island. LMCG members shared updates on their ongoing initiatives, including island patrols, coral restoration, and waste management, as well as their experiences in protecting Larapan’s marine environment. The delegates also met with the Village Head and LMCG members to discuss potential collaborations and encouraged the community to apply for the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) grant to further support conservation efforts on the island. We also met with the Department of Fisheries Sabah, Sabah Biodiversity Centre, and Sabah Parks to share updates and explore future collaborations. Both agencies showed strong interest in community initiatives, while Sabah Parks expressed commitment to supporting our sustainable tourism programme.
A sharing session between the village head, the delegates, and LMCG members
RCM team (middle to furthest right) during the courtesy visit to SaBC
MANTANANI ISLAND
From July to September 2025, a total of 108 tourists visited Mantanani Island, showing steady interest despite competition from other destinations in the district and state. Their presence not only helped promote the area but also boosted local income. Over this period, RM11,700 in revenue was generated through tour packages, guiding services, and equipment rentals. This income plays an important role in supporting the small-scale economy of the community, many of whom rely on tourism as a main source of livelihood.
By September, our team collected a total of 802.9 kg of plastic waste and 740.1 kg of other waste which were successfully transported to the Kayu Madang landfill site. The waste disposal process was carried out using villagers’ boats and an RORO truck provided by MDKB. This is a continuous effort by our team on the island to address the issue of trash and plastic waste.
Homestay owners with their guests
A villager’s boat used to transport the trash
SEMPORNA
Since its launch in March 2025, the waste management program on Selakan Island has involved 40 households in a community-led waste collection and segregation system. So far, 1,339 kg of waste has been prevented from polluting the surrounding marine ecosystem, with segregated waste sent to the mainland for proper disposal. The Selakan Marine Conservation Group led the implementation and coordination, gaining valuable hands-on experience in managing community-based projects. This initiative was made possible with support from Exo Foundation and our partners—KePKAS, Sabah Parks, and Semporna Island Projects.
Members of our Community Marine Conservation Groups (CMCGs) in Semporna have been building new skills through several training sessions, including:
1. Rescue Diver Certification – Enhances members’ safety awareness and strengthens their ability to carry out marine conservation work.
2. Drone Training – Equips members with the skills to operate drones for upcoming sea patrols in Mabul, expanding the patrolling efforts from Selakan Island.
3. Community Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) Workshop – Prepares members to take the lead in education and awareness activities on their islands, continuing RCM’s outreach efforts independently.
Several bins placed around the village for waste segregation
CMCG members who completed their Rescue Diver training
Participants learning how to operate the drone
A community workshop was held in Larapan with SaBC and 55 villagers as part of the OCEAN Fund project on community-based marine resource management. The session introduced the concept of a Community Protocol (CP), a framework that guides how the community manages local resources and grants access to researchers using their traditional knowledge. Participants discussed progress on the CP’s development, shared updates and experiences, and took part in interactive activities, all reinforcing the importance of the CP in ensuring sustainable marine resource management and a secure future for Larapan Island.
Participants of the Community Protocol Workshop in Larapan Island
Group discussion during the workshop
