THREE REDANG DIVE SITES MONITORED FOR CORAL BLEACHING

REDANG ISLAND (Terengganu, Malaysia), Aug 7 (Bernama) -- The Department of
Marine Parks is studying the extent of coral bleaching at three more dive sites
in the Redang Island Marine Park to determine whether they should be closed
temporarily to save the corals.

Its director-general, Abdul Jamal Mydin, said today the dive sites would be
closed if the damage to the corals, caused by global warming, was more than 60
per cent.

Water recreation activities such as snorkelling and scuba diving are
prohibited at the Teluk Bakau dive site which has been closed temporarily due to
coral bleaching. The Redang Island Marine Park has 18 dive sites.

"We will not close the dive sites if the damage to the corals is less than
60 per cent, like in the case of the marine parks in Johor state," he said to
reporters after launching the Merdeka Conservation Dive 2010, here.

The Redang Island Resort Operators Association monitored several areas in
the marine park recently and recommended the temporary closure of the Ekor
Tebu Island, Che Isa Island and Tanjung Lebam dive sites.

Global warming due to the El Nino phenomenon had raised the temperature of
sea water from 28 to 31 degrees Celcius and triggered the damage to the corals.

"The temperature has dropped to 29 degrees now," said Abdul Jamal.

On the conservation dive programme, he said it was to create awareness among
students and the public on the importance of rehabilitation of marine
biodiversity.

Redang is one of the largest islands off the east coast of Malaysia. It is
one of nine islands, which form a marine park, and which offer snorkeling and
diving opportunities.
-- BERNAMA