Year-long anti-fish bombing campaign
Published on: Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Kota Kinabalu: An unprecedented year-long Anti-Fish Bombing and Anti-Cyanide Fishing Campaign was launched at Karakit, Banggi Island last Saturday.The tripartite allies formed to wage this offensive against destructive fishing are the Banggi District Office, Rare Pride and WWF-Malaysia.An innovative method of social marketing will be applied throughout.
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The goal is to reduce fish bombing and use of cyanide by promoting behavioural change.The campaign involves seven communities within the proposed million-acre Tun Mustapha Marine Park.They are Kampung Sibogo, Perpaduan, Singgahmata, Maliangin, Karakit, Berungus (Pitas) and Tanjung Kapur of Kudat."Our aim is not just to reduce but ultimately to stop fish bombing and use of cyanide in the Park," said Adnan Abdual Majid, Banggi People Development Leader who represented the Assemblyman for Banggi, Abdul Mijul Unaini.
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"To succeed, we'll need all the support of the communities, enforcement agencies and the general public," said Adnan.The good news is Maliangin and Berungus have already set an example, Adnan noted.
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"They are role model communities worthy of emulation because they are already supporting the campaign to combat fish bombing and the use of cyanide fishing," he said."I see an important role in the Ketua Kampung (Village Chief) in ensuring that such destructive fishing methods are not used in any kampung," said Adnan, who encouraged leading by good example.The launching also marked the start of a three-day Reef Check Training in Karakit and nearby Maliangin Island.The collaborators in this capacity-building exercise are Reef Check Malaysia and WWF-Malaysia.Specifically, local communities were trained to monitor the status of coral reefs around their islands.Besides monitoring and reporting destructive fishing methods, the communities will also monitor the health of the reefs to better understand the role of reefs in sustaining fish and marine habitat. In addition, they will participate directly in managing their coral reefs and the marine environment, according to WWF.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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