Coral Bleaching: UMS Marine Scientists Urge Best Practices, Not A Knee-jerk Response

Newmond Tibin Bernama 4 Aug 10;

KOTA KINABALU, Aug 4 (Bernama) -- Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) marine scientists, who reported the occurrence of coral bleaching in Sepanggar Bay last week, do not suggest a knee-jerk response to coral bleaching from a management perspective.

UMS Director of Borneo Marine Research Institute Prof Dr Saleem Mustafa said instead they urged a rational decision based on scientific facts.

"It is difficult to exactly quantify (the extent of) coral bleaching which can be a subjective matter, but going by experience of diving in the area it is certainly not as severe as reported for west Malaysia," he told Bernama, here today.

On July 29, he was quoted as saying that UMS scientists had discovered widespread coral bleaching in Sepanggar Bay, off Sabah waters, and such activities deserved serious attention due to its implications on marine biodiversity and coral reef fisheries in the state's waters.

Dr Saleem said in Sabah, bleaching seemed to have started in recent months and three scientists -- Aw Soo Ling, Muhd Ali and Dr Abentin Estim, who detected it, were examining the coral bleaching problem in more detail.

"Of course, all possible efforts should be made to reduce stress to corals during the bleaching process by following universally accepted 'best practices' while diving.

"These include careful navigation to avoid contact with the corals, preventing oil and gas spill from boat engine, using buoys, rather than anchors wherever possible, avoiding contact of the body and diving gear with the corals," he said.

Dr Saleem said although control on fishing activity reduced stress, it was hard to achieve beyond the protected areas.

He said underwater nature tourism, which is important in Sabah, was aimed at appreciating and admiring the marine biodiversity that promoted conservation.

However, he said: "Restrictions on diving can be placed if it contributes to bleaching or is a setback to recovery of corals from bleaching, and this requires scientific evidence and experience," he said.

He said recent observations raised the possibility of an increase in pathogen concentration in the coastal waters linked to climate change.

"If some pathogens are indeed taking advantage of the climate change, their effects on ocean ecosystem by attacking corals or their photosynthetic symbionts called zooxanthellae, remains to be scientifically confirmed.

"This is yet another factor to be considered in addition to the release of zooxanthellae from corals due to warming of the sea water. It is the loss of zooxanthellae that causes corals to bleach," he said.

Dr Saleem said UMS scientists had suggested long-terms measures to build resilience in coral reef ecosystem in the earlier report.

"It is time that measures for adaptation to climate change for managing our marine resources are elaborated and implemented. Such adaptations need to be incorporated in managing marine fisheries and aquaculture, conservation of mangroves and seagrasses, and in fact, in the comprehensive coastal zone," he added.

-- BERNAMA


Miri not hit by coral bleaching
Diana Rose The Star 5 Aug 10;

MIRI: Dive sites in Miri are safe and not affected by the current worldwide coral bleaching which has seen temporary closure of a few popular dives sites in Peninsular Malaysia.

Coral bleaching occurs when the sea temperature rises above 31°C for more than two days, causing corals to revert to its original white colour.

Corals are essentially white. The colour comes from the algae living in them. Any stress on the corals, such as temperature change will cause them to expel the algae.

James Wan, the owner of Planet Borneo, a popular travel agent here, which organises diving activities, told The Star that they were still bringing guests to dive at various popular sites off the coast of Miri.

“Marine life and the coral reefs here are still in beautiful condition,” he said.

According to the Reef Watch website, there are negligible occurrences of coral bleaching off the coast of Miri measured at about 0.46 degrees (coloured pink).

A Sarawak Forestry Corporation Sdn Bhd spokesman said so far they have not received any formal complaints on any coral bleaching off the Miri coast. “We have plans to monitor it though,” he said.

Miri dive sites within the 150sq km triangle off its shoreline have some of the most pristine coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific basin.

Just a 30-minute boat ride from the Miri River mouth is the golden triangle of an underwater haven. Some of these reefs have been earmarked for scuba diving and are comparable with other world-renowned dive sites.

Coral bleaching was highlighted in a recent report in The Star that said some 90% of Malaysia’s corals are dead due to global warming, and the reefs may never recover unless the people switch to a greener lifestyle.

It said that the corals in marine parks at Pulau Payar, Pulau Tioman and Pulau Redang had suffered bleaching, leading to the closure of some dive sites until October.

Universiti Sains Malaysia marine biologist Prof Dr Zulfigar Yass was quoted as saying that bleaching had occurred since April, spreading from the coast of India to Australia.