More than 50 dedicated individuals, mostly local islanders, recently participated in a marine conservation effort on Selakan Island, located on Sabah’s east coast. From October 12 to Sunday, a total of 290 reef stars and over 4,200 coral fragments were deployed. Selakan Island is known for its rich history, culture, and marine biodiversity.
Local islanders working together to build the reef stars.
According to Reef Check Malaysia program manager Adzmin Fatta, Selakan Island faces the challenge of coral degradation, which has been worsened by various factors, including historical fish bombing. Therefore, the conservation work by the Selakan group is not only crucial for protecting their cultural and environmental heritage, particularly the precious coral reefs, but also serves as a unifying force for marine conservation.
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The initiative, which took place within the Tun Sakaran Marine Park, was organized by Reef Check Malaysia and Sabah Parks as part of the Community-Based Coral Restoration and Conservation Project. The program received generous funding from the state Tourism, Culture, and Environment Ministry, highlighting the power of collaboration in safeguarding natural heritage.
Adzmin emphasized the belief of Reef Check Malaysia in community empowerment in marine conservation, which leads to sustainable stewardship of marine resources guided by the local communities themselves.
Divers holding up a banner of the program underwater.
Mohammad Raziman Hamjah, a youth diver from the Selakan group, expressed the group’s dedication to the vital effort. They are actively engaged in the restoration of coral reefs in collaboration with Reef Check Malaysia and Sabah Parks. This is their first experience in marine conservation, and they are eagerly anticipating positive outcomes from their deployment.
Women folk hard at work building the coral frames.
During the closing ceremony, Kasan Abdul Hakim, the village chief of Selakan Island, expressed his ambition to make the island a sought-after destination. Selakan Island, situated in Tun Sakaran Marine Park and under the jurisdiction of Sabah Parks, plays a crucial role in the region’s marine ecosystem.
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Mohd Nara Ahmad, a research officer from Sabah Parks, stressed the importance of deterring illicit activities and assisting in the recovery of critical marine ecosystems, particularly coral reefs.
The completed coral frames ready to be transported out to open sea.
In addition to deploying 290 reef stars, Reef Check Malaysia and Sabah Parks conducted awareness sessions for the children of Selakan Island to educate them about the role of reefs in marine ecosystems.
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Reef stars are hexagonal steel frames with attached coral fragments used to fill gaps between live corals and depleted reef areas. The 10-day program was part of a two-year collaboration between Reef Check Malaysia, Sabah Parks, and various partners, including Aquadive Discovery Sdn Bhd, Kulapuan Youth, Mabul Youth, and MARRS Trainer from Indonesia. The next phase of the project will involve installing an additional 200 reef stars in partnership with the local community.
