KOTA KINABALU: The placement of mooring buoys at Timba-Timba Island near Semporna has been completed in order to prevent damage to coral reefs from boat anchors. Reef Check Malaysia, in partnership with the Semporna district office, Pulau Sipadan Resort and Tours (PSR) and volunteers from the Pemimpin Iklim Belia Mabul and Larapan Marine Conservation Group, successfully installed four buoys at the island on Jan 11 and 12.
“The indiscriminate use of anchors has been identified as a significant threat to the health of coral reefs, prompting this collaborative effort to provide an eco-friendly alternative for marine enthusiasts,” said Reef Check Malaysia programme manager Adzmin Fatta when contacted on Saturday (Jan 13).
Volunteers preparing to deploy the mooring buoys.
A mooring buoy is a floating structure in deep or shallow water, which vessels can tether to.
Adzmin said each mooring buoy was equipped with three sinkers, capable of accommodating three to five boats.
This initiative was part of the “Building Marine Conservation Leaders in Semporna” project, funded by the CIMB Foundation, with additional support from Tourism Jetty and Semporna Professional Dive Association.
Volunteers preparing one of the sinkers used to secure the buoys.
Adzmin said each mooring buoy was equipped with three sinkers, capable of accommodating three to five boats.
He said Timba-Timba Island was chosen as the location for the buoys based on a study by Reef Check Malaysia which showed a decline in coral reef coverage on Timba-Timba Island.
He added that one factor is the use of anchors for boats for recreational water activities.
