SABAH MOVES TO CONSERVE TURTLES, MARINE HABITAT

SANDAKAN (Malaysia), Sept 10 (Bernama) -- When the waters that surround Selingaan, Gulisaan and Bakkungan Kechil islands, were turned into a marine park and named Taman Pulau-Pulau Penyu in 1977, it was done for a certain intention.

The move was not only to protect the turtles that land on the three
islands, off the coast of East Malaysia state of Sabah, but also to conserve the coral reefs that thrive in these waters as they were a major component of the marine park's eco-system.

Apart from being the source of food for the turtles, the coral reefs are
also the habitat of other marine life in the park.

Aware of this important aspect, the Sabah Parks authorities have launched a
programme to monitor the situation of coral reefs in this marine park.

According to the marine park's manager, Fazrullah Rizally Abdul Razak, the
objective of the annual programme is to ensure the continuous existence of the
marine habitat there, despite the focus being on the turtles.

To facilitate monitoring work, the 1,740 hectare-wide park is is
sub-divided into five zones.

Marine research staff would dive into the sea to collect samples for data
compilation, Fazrullah Rizally told Bernama while inspecting monitoring work at
the marine park recently.

Marine Research Unit staff from Tun Sakaran and Tunku Abdul Rahman marine
parks, led by research officer Nasrul Hakim Maidin, conducted the exercise.

Fazrullah Rizally said the data compiled would be useful for future
long-term research programmes.

He said data obtained from this research would be analysed and applied in
the next coral reefs management programme.

"For example, if they (marine research unit) come across the starfish while
inspecting the coral reefs, the starfish would be removed if these marine
creatures are found in abundance on the coral reefs.

"This is so as the existence of too many starfish could threaten the corals
while too few starfish indicates the corals are not growing well," he
said.

Hence, the data is crucial towards determining the health status of the
coral reefs and if the level dips, a water-quality check would have to be
carried out.

Fazrullah Rizally said three methods are used in the monitoring programme
on the coral reefs - checking on the type of corals, identifying the breed of
fish that live among the corals and making out the invertebrates that live on
these reefs.

"These three methods, used widely worldwide, allow the determination of the
coral reefs' health level whether it is healthy or the otherwise", he
said.

Fazrullah Rizally said the monitoring work usually takes about one week
depending on the weather conditions.

He said based on the monitoring work, the corals in Taman Pulau-Pulau Penyu
is found to be healthy and in good condition.

This is due to the continuous conservation efforts by Sabah Parks via its
marine research unit.

Apart from the Taman Pulau-Pulau Penyu, similar monitoring and research
work are regularly held at other marine parks in the state like the Tun Sakaran
and Pulau Sipadan marine parks (Semporna) as well as Tunku Abdul Rahman marine
park (Kota Kinabalu) and Pulau Tiga marine park (Kuala Penyu).
-- BERNAMA