Diana Rose The Star 29 Sep 10;
DIVING operators in Miri are not amused over a statement that “human factors” have contributed to coral-bleaching near Miri and Similajau.
“What human factors are they talking about?” asked James Wan, owner of Planet Borneo, a popular travel agent in Miri, which organises diving activities.
James was reacting to a report by a group of eco-minded divers who reported their findings to the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) after monitoring the area voluntarily for the last two years.
According to the group, coral reefs near Miri and Similajau are suffering significant coral-bleaching due to environmental and human factors.
James told StarMetro that diving was a niche market product and that divers were required to have a permit before they could pursue this underwater hobby.
“At its peak we have about 300 divers coming to Miri in a year. Otherwise, on average we have only 200 divers a year.
“If it’s true that Miri is a popular mass diving sites I will be laughing all the way to the bank by now,” he said.
Brushing aside fears that the coral-bleaching problem would affect the city as a popular dive site, James said: “We are still bringing guests to dive at various sites off the coast of Miri. Coral-bleaching happens when the water reaches 31*C but once the temperature goes down, the corals are back to normal. Marine life and the coral reefs here are still in beautiful condition.”
James said that on average a diver would spend about RM350 for a day, diving in Miri.
The Star also reported recently that SFC protected areas and bio-diversity conservation general manager Wilfred Landong as saying that various measures were being recommended to tackle the bleaching problem but they could not be achieved overnight.
He believed that public awareness was crucial in any conservation effort along with enforcement and rehabilitation.
“Other than global warming, many factors contribute to coral-bleaching. It could be caused by destruction of habitats and pollution, which needs along-term strategy to minimise the impact. Our conservation strategy is to get the public to assist us, thereby creating more awareness,” he said.
He said that several national parks in Sarawak, namely Tanjung Datu, Talang-Satang, Similajau and Miri-Sibuti were gazetted for the purpose of marine conservation.
