More protection for corals
A new law to protect Malaysia’s marine environment has been proposed. How will it help?
MALAYSIA’S Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment may introduce a special law in marine and coral reef conservation.
Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said through the proposed legislation, stricter deterrent measures will be taken against anyone found polluting and threatening sensitive marine ecosystems.
“With the new law in place, a more rigorous approach will be taken. A person caught, for example, causing oil spills, though he has no intention of polluting the sea, will still be held responsible and liable to prosecution,” he said during a recent interview with national news agency Bernama.
The minister said the country’s waters, for instance, in the Straits of Melaka and Johor, are sensitive to pollution, and those involved with sea activities should be concerned about the matter.
Wan Junaidi said the preservation of marine ecosystems should be given a high priority because they provide benefits to humans and also affect climate change and global warming.
The ministry, he said, is working with Australia on efforts to protect Malaysia’s coral reefs and marine life.
“We have signed a memorandum of understanding with Australia, which is willing to share expertise, new technology and provide training for this purpose,” he said.
He said the ministry is also reviewing Australia’s recommendations on the use of a certain kind of snail as a natural predator to control the population of crown-ofthorns starfish which are causing significant damage to reefs in Australia.
In another development, Wan Junaidi said Malaysia has successfully met all the stringent criteria in applying for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) that supports the efforts of developing countries to implement mitigation projects in response to climate change.
The GCF was set up in 2010 by 194 countries that are parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; the fund is a part of the convention’s financial mechanism. As one of the parties to the convention, Malaysia has pledged to cut carbon emission intensity by 40% by the year 2020.
Wan Junaidi’s announcement about stricter deterrents to marine pollution should be strongly supported, according to marine conservation NGO Reef Check Malaysia.
This call is timely as Malaysia is facing increasing threats to its marine ecosystems, according to the NGO. It is estimated that Malaysia has some 4,000sq km of coral reef. In the wake of the last mass coral bleaching event that devastated up to 10% of coral reefs in Malaysia, more stringent protection is most welcome.
Coral bleaching occurs when sea temperatures rise, believed to be a product of global warming.
A similar coral bleaching event in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef in 2016 resulted in some 30% of reefs there suffering coral mortality.
Reef Check Malaysia’s 2016 survey data show that the average live coral cover of Malaysia stands at about 44%, which is considered to be in “fair” condition.
However, the data also reveal that of 13% of sites surveyed, nearly one third of the reef is covered with algae, a sign of nutrient pollution from man-made sources – often this turns out to be poorly treated sewage.
Threats to our marine ecosystems are varied. For example, earlier this year, lumps of black tar (tar balls) were found around Pulau Tioman and had to be removed by local volunteers. (These tar balls are hardened crude oil that could have been dumped by ships passing nearby.)
The growing tourism industry, while an important source of jobs, can also be a threat if it is not controlled.
These are examples of problems that require immediate attention, and more stringent legislation will certainly help.
The Minister’s call is also in line with Malaysia’s commitment to achieve two of the Sustainable Development Goals: that by 2020, at least 10% of coastal and marine areas are effectively managed; and that by 2025 there is a significant reduction in all kinds of pollution from land based activities.
(The Sustainable Development Goals are a collection of 17 interrelated global goals covering a broad range of social development issues set out by the United Nations and agreed to by most countries.)
This is definitely great news as we head into 2018, the International Year of the Reef as declared by the UN, says Reef Check Malaysia.
It is Reef Check Malaysia’s hope that the law will include provisions that will empower locals on the ground; this, it is hoped, will improve conservation and enforcement efforts.
The NGO also hopes that the law will help to protect connected ecosystems, such as coral reefs and sea grass beds, as well as the “charismatic” species such as sharks, turtles, and whales. – Bernama