Project update - Malaysia Reef Conservation Project (Malaysia) - January 2004
Added to website: 01 January 2004
Project Brief
Aim
The Malaysia Coral Reef Conservation Project is a project to survey coral reefs of a number of areas within Malaysia. CCC work at the invitation of, and in partnership with the Malaysian Department of Marine Parks under the Ministry for Environment and Natural Resources. In contrast to CCC projects elsewhere in the world, the Malaysian projects have so far been based in existing designated marine parks. Data collected by CCC is to be presented in the form of a habitat map, which the Department of Marine Parks can then use to more effectively manage their resources.
CCC expect to withdraw temporarily from Malaysia following completion of work on Pulau Payar at the end of March 2005. It is hoped to return to Malaysia at a time suitable to Marine Parks.
Location
CCC is currently based in Pulau Payar Marine Park, about 20 miles from the popular tourist destination of Pulau Langkawi on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia.
The team has been based on Pulau Payar for three months now. Before this the base was Pulau Redang Marine Park on the east coast of peninsular Malaysia. The approaching monsoon on the east coast initiated the move. It is hoped that CCC will return to the east coast of peninsular Malaysia at some stage.
Pulau Payar Marine Park consists of four islands, the largest of which is Pulau Payar (about 1 km by 200 metres wide). Pulau Lembu, Pulau Kaca and Pulau Segantang make up the remaining islands within the park.
CCC Partners
CCC is working at the invitation of and in partnership with the Marine Parks Department of the Ministry for Natural Resources and Environment.
Marine Science Programme
The survey area is divided into five sectors, one sector for each island, with Pulau Payar itself divided as it is significantly larger than the others.
Surveys of fish, coral and other invertebrate species will be undertaken at 200 m intervals around the coasts of the islands. Surveys will be undertaken at 4 m depth intervals at each survey site.
The survey team on Pulau Payar has completed over 75 transect surveys to date. Initial survey of Pulau Lembu and Pulau Kaca is complete. The west side of Pulau Payar is the current survey area, and it is hoped to start survey on Pulau Segantang next month. Preliminary analysis of data collected to date is currently underway.
It is no longer anticipated that direct Reefcheck surveys will be undertaken. However, the specific data required by Reefcheck will be extracted from the relevant surveys and forwarded to the Reefcheck HQ.
Interesting / Unusual Sightings
A number of pairs of whales have been observed passing close to the islands this month. It is thought that they are pilot whales. A whale shark was also observed on a dive off the southern tip of Pulau Payar. A current algal bloom has reduced visibility on the island making observation a little more difficult than usual. However, it also means that it focuses attention on to the smaller life on the sea bed, where numerous interesting animals can be seen.
Environmental Awareness
Capacity Building/Training of Local Counterparts
Whilst there are no immediate plans for environmental awareness projects in the Pulau Payar area, CCC aims to conduct a number of programmes whilst located in the vicinity.
A number of Malaysian scholars are due to be welcomed on site in January as part of the CCC scholarship programme. This programme invites a limited number of students from academic institutions to participate on CCC conservation work.
A member of the Marine Park staff on Pulau Payar is furthering his dive training, hopefully to Divemaster, under the watchful eyes of the CCC scuba instructor.
