Sugud Islands Marine Research Centre Set Up In Sabah

SANDAKAN (Sabah, Malaysia), June 10 (Bernama) -- A research centre has been set up to improve the marine ecosystem at the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA) in eastern Sabah, one of the two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. The Sugud Islands Marine Research Centre (SIMRC) was set up following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Sunday at Billean Island, off Sandakan town. The SIMRC, located on Billean, is a joint effort of the Sabah Wildlife Department, Reef Guardian Sdn Bhd and Cardiff University. Sabah Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Pang Yuk Ming said SIMCA had, for more than 12 years, played a key role in managing coral reef conservation and this had benefited eco-tourism and protection of the biodiversity. The Sabah government had, on Dec 3, 2001, declared an area of 46,317 hectares comprising the Lankayan, Tegaipil and Billean islands along with the surrounding shallow reefs as a conservation area, now popularly known as SIMCA. “Reef Guardian, which was appointed to fully manage SIMCA with the close cooperation of the Sabah Wildlife Department, is embarking on a new initiative together with Cardiff University. "The setting up of this centre will enhance research and conservation of the marine ecosystem and scientifically assess the success of the conservation area. "We are proud to be part of this initiative that will certainly increase the interest of local and international scientists in coral reef ecosystem research within the region, and boost eco-tourism in the east coast of Sabah," he said. Reef Guardian research officer and SIMRC manager Davies Austin Spiji said the centre’s objectives included enhancing knowledge and skills in marine research and monitoring through joint training, workshops and research for effective management of marine resources and biodiversity conservation. He said SIMRC would also provide training and teaching facilities to local and international universities and institutions for hands-on field experiences in the tropical coral reef ecosystem. "SIMRC will also facilitate the restocking of commercially important and threatened marine species in Sabah through mariculture practices and promote awareness on marine conservation to public and local stakeholders," he said. Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) director and Cardiff University research associate Dr Benoit Goossens said the creation of the research centre in SIMCA would provide a world-class education facility with the necessary structure and resources to undertake advanced marine ecosystem science, particularly in small tropical island and coral reef ecology. Goossens, who represented the vice-chancellor of Cardiff University, said the university would offer field courses to its students and to local and international students who underwent training at SIMRC. The university would also manage student intake and field work programme at the centre, and would help raise funds for the procurement of consumables and additional laboratory equipment for activities at the SIMRC. "Today, Cardiff University is in a position to offer field courses and research opportunities in the two most diverse ecosystems of the world – the tropical coral reef at SIMRC and the tropical rainforest at DGFC in the Kinabatangan area, also on Sabah’s east coast. "We thank the Sabah state government, the Sabah Wildlife Department and Reef Guardian for their support and friendship and we look forward to many years of collaboration," said Goossens. -- BERNAMA