WWF letter to the Editor: Mabul oceanarium development

WWF 24 Nov 08;

WWF-Malaysia refers to the recent news of plans to further develop Mabul Island through the construction of a 200-room chalet, research centre and oceanarium. WWF-Malaysia strongly disagrees with this plan.

A study carried out on Mabul Island and its surrounding marine ecosystems and coastal waters revealed that 85% of the island has already been cleared for village-housing, school-house and budget home-stay accommodation to five-star resorts. 80% of the coral reefs sites surrounding Mabul Island are used by all operators for muck-diving and 50% of the coral reefs, based on the agreement between the diving sector and the villagers, are open to fishing.

As a hub for the tourism industry in Semporna, Mabul Island has the potential to act as a coral reef management centre. This is an important feature in realising the aims of the Sabah Development Corridor Plan to develop marine adventure tourism and marine fisheries industry. Recognising this, WWF-Malaysia’s Semporna Priority Conservation Area of the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion (SSME) is facilitating a collaborative management of coral reefs with its stakeholders.

WWF-Malaysia has discovered that the stakeholders of Mabul Island very much value their marine resources and agree that the quality of ground and coastal waters have been affected. In addition, there has been loss of wilderness aspects, and the health of coral reefs which have been negatively influenced by the high resource use. In view of this, the stakeholders have decided to set the limits of change for Mabul as the island is already under strain.

The reef-flats close to shore are waded-in every day at low tide to glean for sea urchins, seashells, and other marine resources. The edge of the reef is fished with hook-and-line for fishes and squids. Coastal waters surrounding Mabul Island are partly polluted by inadequate waste-water treatment and poor solid waste management to handle the land-based sources of pollution from villagers and resorts.

Tourists have complained of crowdedness on the island since two years back which indicates a growing loss of the wilderness value. The resources of Mabul Island – the land, the coral reefs and the coastal waters – are already heavily used.

WWF-Malaysia would also like to stress that artificial reefs do not bring more fish for people to eat. By allowing young fishes to grow to maturity through protection of their natural habitat, fish numbers will increase. Damaged coral reefs and their resident fish populations can recover simply by stopping the threats that plague them. The Sugud Island Marine Conservation Area off Sandakan in partnership with the Sabah Wildlife Department and a private sector demonstrated this successful recovery of damaged reef, without the aid of artificial reefs, through research, monitoring and management.

A management plan for Mabul Island and its resources will be prepared by the stakeholders to regulate development and resource use. This is also in line with meeting governmental standards and their own standards for sustainable tourism and coral reef fisheries.

WWF-Malaysia continues to support the State Government of Sabah and the SSME Committee of Malaysia in the conservation and sustainable resource use of the coral reefs for tourism and coral reef fisheries. With the increase in loss of habitats and ecosystems services, all stakeholders of ecosystems need to pull together to prevent further loss of ecosystems.

From: Dato' Dr. Dionysius S.K. Sharma D.P.M.P., Executive Director/CEO, WWF-Malaysia

More links


posted by Ria Tan at 11/24/2008 01:34:00 PM

labels , , ,