Protect Coral Reefs in Malaysia

Recently Reef Check Malaysia conducted baseline assessment of coral reef at Pulau Rhu. Pulau Rhu has fringing reefs and is a moderately popular tourism destination, due to its proximity to the mainland and Kuala Besut. The island has no protected status and is a popular fishing ground for local small scale, artisanal fishermen who lay nets and fish traps close to the island.

Terengganu State Parks is considering gazetting the island as a protected area, covering both the island itself and the waters around the island. As a result, Reef Check Malaysia was requested to conduct a programme of surveys to:

-          Assess the health of coral reefs around the island

-          Document the reefs

-          Provide inputs to the process of establishing a protected area at the island.

It is found that the reefs are in fair condition and the island has high conservation value. This survey programme is part of a long process involved in gazetting the island. An extensive and multiple consultations with existing users to allow them to express their attitudes and opinions on gazettement, and to identify conflicts and attempt to find solutions will be conducted.

From January until August, numerous Crown-of-Thorns (COTs) culling programmes were carried out on Tioman Island and over 1000 COTs were injected. Culling of COTs with household vinegar is proven to be effective, environmentally friendly, cheap and fast. The success of these efforts was due to collaboration from Reef Check Malaysia, Department of Fisheries Pahang, Tioman Marine Conservation Group, dive centres and volunteers.

COTs preys on hard corals and can damage coral reefs when their population exceeds 0.2-0.3 individual per 100m2 healthy reef. If their number is above the acceptable limit, COTs injection is needed to control their population.

Since 2020, the population of COTs on Tioman Island is above what a healthy reef can support. This is mainly due to restriction of movement control order imposed due to Covid-19 pandemic which stopped all diving activities, including COTs culling efforts. As a result, COTs population proliferated during the last two years. The restriction was lifted in October 2021 and COTs culling efforts resumed, successfully brought down the population in 2022. Existing efforts to control the population will be heightened to bring the population down to below 0.2-0.3 individual per 100m2.