Foreign tourists join coral reef rehabilitation off Sabah's Pulau Tiga

 

BEAUFORT: A marine conservation programme off Pulau Tiga near Kuala Penyu attracted foreign tourists to participate in reef activities. 

During a recent session, Sabah Parks staff observed 80 Chinese tourists taking part in a coral reef rehabilitation project on Pulau Kalampunian Besar, part of the conservation area. 

The initiative, requested by a resort operator on the island, aims to boost live coral cover and raise visitor awareness of reef conservation. 

Sabah's coral reefs are facing significant depletion due to climate-driven coral bleaching, notably in 2024, outbreaks of coral-eating Crown-of-Thorns starfish (CoT), and human activities such as sedimentation and fish bombing. 

Park personnel, led by officer Eddy Robert, explained that the project uses man-made "coral frame" structures to support transplanted healthy coral fragments as they grow. 

During the demonstration, the team used Acropora sp., a fast-growing branching coral commonly employed in reef rehabilitation.

Sabah Parks research officer Elvin Michael Bavoh said two coral frames had been prepared for the site. 

"Each structure can hold about 40 coral fragments once installed. We aim to monitor them about once a month through photography, though schedules may vary depending on operational needs and available manpower," he said. 

Elvin added that Sabah Parks welcomes future collaboration with tourism operators, especially for programmes that promote environmental awareness. 

Chinese tourists made up the largest share of international arrivals in Sabah last year, with 657,528 visitors.

-nst online.