A close-up of one of the coral colonies.
KOTA KINABALU: Coral propagation or coral planting is an environmental initiative that is slowly gaining quite a momentum among visitors as well as the youths here.
Monica Chin, the only female Sabahan that is licensed to teach and certify coral propagation in the state, said that a few years back, this was not something of interest among the public, let alone the youths.
Restoring nature: A visitor learning about coral propagation; — Coral photos courtesy of Anuar Abdullah
She said this could have been due to a lack of awareness or opportunity to be part of such an activity, and so Chin set about to change that.
“It is a different story now. People are actually excited and want to know more about this,” Chin added.
Through her company, Chin said she has been working with various agencies, resorts and schools to create more awareness on coral planting and the importance of marine ecosystems.
Coral fragging is taking a healthy coral colony and cutting or breaking it into smaller pieces to attach to an artificial substrate or directly onto a natural reef so that it would grow and become new coral colonies.
Chin, a diving enthusiast, said being underwater is a mesmerising experience as there is a whole new world to discover that is almost magical.
“That is why I want to create more interest and get public participation in the effort to restore our corals,” she said.
Part of the rich coral reefs in Sabah.
To date, she has managed to license 56 coral propagators, comprising locals and foreigners alike.
Chin’s company focuses on the waters off Usukan island near the Kota Belud district besides working with other resorts and island operators to conduct programmes relating to coral propagation.
Apart from conservation courses and programmes, she also conducts courses and training on jungle ecosystems, identifying birds, working with wildlife, mangrove as well as tree-0tagging.
“Nature is part of our lives. It is important that we care for the ocean, the land, the skies as well as our flora and fauna,” she said.
Coral reefs are home to exceptional biodiversity. They protect coastal areas from erosion and damages from disasters such as storms and hurricanes, and can even mitigate the effects of a tsunami to a certain extent.
