KUDAT: Coral restoration sites under the Tun Mustapha Park (TMP) Coral Restoration Roadmap yielded an increase in live coral cover and fish biomass, said WWF-Malaysia.
The project adopts a first-in-Malaysia approach dubbed Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System (Marrs) where coral fragments are carefully processed and placed on frames.
“The process of restoration is effective, time-saving, and easily scalable, it entails growing coral fragments on large frames coated in coral sand, which over time, develops into larger reef structures. The frame, which assembles a hexagonal structure, is aptly named ‘Reef Star’.
“Approximately 1,512 square metres of degraded reef area near Maliangin Kecil Island, Pitas Floating Coral Bar, and Tajau Laut were revitalised with 1,300 units of Reef Stars, restoring 18,600 coral fragments from over 30 species.
“Thanks to Reef Stars, fish populations are rebounding. After six months in one of four coral restoration sites, there was a remarkable 9.9 per cent increase in live coral cover and a 20-fold increase in total fish biomass,” WWF-Malaysia said in a statement.
The TMP Coral Restoration Roadmap is part of an ocean governance project funded by the European Union In 2022, which brought together various stakeholders for a coral restoration project in TMP.
Over 100 people from government agencies, community-based organisations, non-government organisations, and tourism operators were directly involved and came together to forge the roadmap in a workshop held last month.
“The coral restoration project has provided a solid foundation for Sabah Parks to continue restoring coral reefs in TMP, all while implementing measures to reduce local stressors on this precious marine habitat,” said WWF-Malaysia.
Sabah Parks Park Manager Norhaslam Adin said: “The TMP Coral Restoration Roadmap represents the first of its kind in Sabah.
“It also shows our commitment to work with other representatives across civil societies, community members, tourism operators and more to further strengthen our coral and marine ecosystems”.
As of 2021, a Reef Check survey conducted by divers from WWF-Malaysia, Sabah Parks, Banggi Coral Conservation Society, and Kudat Turtle Conservation Society found that only 5.8 per cent of live coral cover within TMP were in excellent condition.
The survey also found that 44.2 per cent of live coral cover were in good condition, while 44.2 per cent were in fair condition and 5.8 per cent in poor condition.
“The need to restore coral reefs is crystal clear, both for marine life, the livelihood and food security of coastal communities,” said WWF-Malaysia.
The TMP is Malaysia’s largest multi-use marine park, spanning nearly 900,000 hectares across 50 islands in the northern tip of Sabah. It is often faced with fish bombing and illegal fishing methods which threaten coral reefs in the area.
