| Save
Sabah Reefs |
What
does this mean for Sabah
Reefs?
So
they have discovered that the world’s coral reefs are disappearing
much faster than had previously been assumed. But how exactly does
this affect Sabah?
To begin with, Sabah is situated right in the Coral Triangle, a region
of the Indo-Pacific known to be a hotspot of global marine biodiversity
and where the vast majority of the world’s coral reefs may be
found. Coral reefs are important to us in Sabah for a number of reasons,
including
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Sustainable fisheries
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While
coral reefs cover barely 1% of the ocean floor, they are home to over
25% of marine life. Many local fishing communities are dependent on
these reefs for their livelihoods and draw on the many edible species
of fish, crustaceans and molluscs found in there. Should Sabah’s
reefs disappear, these very communities and their way of life will
no longer be viable. |
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| Tourism |
Sabah
is blessed with some beautiful reefs which draw tourists from all
over the world, with the majority coming to dive on the most famous
of these, such as Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai and Layang-layang. In addition,
we are fortunate enough to have some excellent opportunities for snorkeling
and diving in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, right on the doostep of the
state capital, Kota Kinabalu! However, if Sabah’s reefs continue
to decline, so too will the numbers of tourists. After all, who wants
to look at dead lumps of rock?
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| Coastal
protection |
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Coral Reefs,
as well as mangrove systems, present natural barriers to the eroding
forces of the sea. protect our beaches from wave action and storm
damage, thus dampening the effects of coastal erosion. If there were
no reefs, Sabah’s beaches, coastal settlements and agricultural
land would slowly disappear through wave action and storm damage. |
Coral
reefs as a natural barrier, protect beaches from erosion.
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| A
source of chemicals and compounds used in biochemical research. |
Sabah
is blessed with some beautiful reefs which draw tourists from all
over the world, with the majority coming to dive on the most famous
of these, such as Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai and Layang-layang. In addition,
we are fortunate enough to have some excellent opportunities for snorkeling
and diving in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, right on the doostep of the
state capital, Kota Kinabalu! However, if Sabah’s reefs continue
to decline, so too will the numbers of tourists. After all, who wants
to look at dead lumps of rock?
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| What
can I do to help? |
| What
can you do to make a difference? How can you help to halt the decline in
our coral reefs? By making a few small responsible changes to your lifestyle,
you can indeed help us to conserve Sabah’s reefs and keep them alive
for future generations.
Consume sustainable seafood
Do not buy seafood that has been harvested from a reef,
particularly in a way which damages the coral such as through bombing
or cyanide fishing. See our Seafood Guide for further information on how
you can choose sustainable seafood.
Be a responsible tourist
Choose to make your holiday or daytrip less damaging to
coral reefs. First and foremost this means not buying any souveniers which
were harvested from reefs, such as corals and giant clams. Also, if you
fancy diving or snorkelling, make sure you do not touch the coral with
your hands, fins or gear. If you see anyone else doing so, tell them of
the damage they are causing, they may not even be aware of it!
Don’t litter
Carelessly thrown away garbage has an impact on reefs
by smothering the coral and becoming ingested by marine life. If you dispose
of some chemicals, such as paint or old motor oil, by just pouring them
down the drain or into the earth, they will eventually find their way
into the reef where they poison corals and other marine life. Even if
you live far away from the sea any littering or pollution you cause will
be washed into rivers which lead to the sea and our coral reefs. So remember
to dispose of garbage responsibly and recycle whenever possible!
For more information regarding to reefs declination crisis. Please click
here for press
summary and article.
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Come and join Aquatica's conservation team
to help Sabah's reefs by signing up for the International Declaration
of Reef Rights.
Click here to sign up.
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