Reef rescue: Divers removing discarded fishing nets from a coral reef in Sabah’s waters.
KOTA KINABALU: Seabed pollution of discarded fishing nets continues to plague islands and waters in Sabah, prompting groups to step up removal efforts of this ecosystem-destroying debris.
Among the recent operations involved divers at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, not far from the state capital, where over 140kg of discarded fishing nets were removed.
Organised in conjunction with the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day 2024, these discarded fishing nets, known to trap and kill marine life, were carefully removed by a group of 25 dedicated volunteer divers.
The team comprised local divers from various agencies and organisations, as well as individuals passionate about ocean conservation.
They braved the underwater currents to remove marine debris, specifically targeting ghost nets reported by dive instructors and recreational divers who frequent the park, ensuring the reef there can continue to thrive.
Nadhirah Mohd Rifai, Reef Check Malaysia’s (RCM) programme manager in Sabah, voiced her concern over the threats now faced by the region’s coral reefs.
“It is devastating to see our reefs covered with ghost nets while also going through the global coral bleaching phenomena.
“We at the RCM are truly grateful for the support, be it from funding or manpower coming from various government agencies, non-governmental organisations and our team of dedicated volunteers for coming together to remove this threat from our reefs,” she said.
Nadhirah said RCM continues to advocate for initiatives that further increase reef resilience against ongoing man-made threats so that they may thrive for years to come.
She said RCM and the Marine Research Foundation (MRF) have spearheaded numerous underwater cleanups over the past years, particularly within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.
This year, their efforts included 10 days of intensive underwater cleanup, successfully removing over 500kg of ghost nets from the park, she said.
These initiatives received strong support from Sabah Parks and the Sabah Dive Rangers, whose local volunteer divers played an essential role, said Nadhirah.
Liyana Izwin Khalid, senior conservation officer at the MRF highlighted the organisation’s ongoing commitment to not only clearing existing marine debris but also preventing future marine pollution.
“One of our key focus areas is reducing marine debris in Sabah’s waters through targeted removal efforts and fostering collaborations among stakeholders,” she said.
Liyana said they aim to remove debris already polluting the ocean and develop strategies to prevent further pollution, adding that the programme is part of a broader effort to secure a cleaner and healthier ocean.
She also pointed out the economic importance of these efforts, citing how these cleanups were not just about conserving marine biodiversity but directly supporting industries that depend on healthy marine ecosystems including tourism and fisheries.
Additionally, she said local fishermen, coastal communities and tour operators benefit from the healthier ocean which they depend on for their livelihoods.
The latest event was organised by RCM, in collaboration with the MRF, and is funded by the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry of Sabah.
Key partners included Sabah Parks, Scuba Junkie SEAS and Sabah Dive Rangers with support from dive operators Scuba Junkie and Go Aquatic.
The ICC Day 2024 is a global event that usually takes place in September where volunteers from all walks of life unite in an effort to rid the ocean and coastlines of marine debris and protect fragile marine ecosystems.
