Project update - Malaysia Reef Conservation Project (Malaysia) - November 2004
Added to website: 01 November 2004
Project Brief
Aim
The Malyasia Coral Reef Conservation Project is an ongoing 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.
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.
Last month saw the team move from Pulau Redang Marine Park on the east coast of peninsular Malaysia to Pulau Payar Marine Park on the west coast. The approaching monsoon on the east coast initiated this move. It is hoped to return to the Redang area post monsoon in March 2005 or so.
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
A revised survey method is currently being introduced in Pulau Payar to allow for greater statistical repeatability and flexibility in analysis during future surveys as well as allowing more direct comparison to existing data sets. Surveying has commenced, but has so far been restricted to the east coast of Pulau Payar. This is the only area accessible to us at the present.
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.
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
We are slowly getting to know the local underwater inhabitants. The abundance and diversity of fish life in particular is impressive. Of the more unusual fish, there is a small number of seahorses resident on sand near the marine park centre. Large pelagic fish such as the Queenfish are regularly observed while diving off the jetty, which the reliable resident barracuda still patrols.
The hunting practices of the local fauna make for interesting observation. Numerous black tip reef sharks come in to the beach to be fed during the day, while in the evening they can be seen hunting in the shallows nearby, their dorsal and tail fins protruding out of the water. From the jetty, sailfins were seen jumping out of the water, presumably related to a hunt. The local sea eagles use the hill near the marine park centre for lift, and appear to hunt all around the island. They can be seen catching fish in the water in front of the centre. The eagles and other birds of prey appear to catch other, smaller birds occasionally too.
A whale shark was observed during a safety stop off Pulau Kaca, although not by members of the CCC team. A small group of whales were also seen coming up for air not far from the marine park centre. However, they were too far away for the species to be determined.
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.
An interest has been shown by a number of potential scholars in 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 to further his dive training, hopefully to Divemaster, under the watchful eyes of the CCC scuba instructor.
