Response to Coral Bleaching

Message from Julian Hyde- General Manager, Reef Check Malaysia Bhd

Dear all

I am writing to you to try to clarify the current situation regarding site closures in response to the current bleaching event.

When bleaching was first detected some weeks ago, the Department of Marine Parks Malaysia undertook some initial monitoring to assess the severity of the bleaching. Monitoring sites were selected on the basis of degree of bleaching and they initially selected sites which were reported to be badly bleached. At the time this was a sensible step and Reef Check Malaysia supported this monitoring on Perhentian and the other islands off the East coast. This was an effective strategy for tracking the impacts of bleaching on coral reefs and monitoring is on-going.

In considering appropriate management responses to coral bleaching, however, a different approach is required. One of the most widely accepted short term responses is to restrict access to selected coral reef areas. The best areas to select are those which are considered to be most resilient – those coral reef areas which are most likely to be the healthiest AFTER the bleaching is finished, so that they will recover most quickly and can “seed” damaged areas and help them to recover. Please see the attached notes for reference.

Last week, I visited many of the dive operators on the Perhentian islands, together with representatives of DMPM, to seek views on which sites might be most suitable for closure. These consultations indicated that the following sites would be appropriate:

- Tanjung Besi
- D’lagoon
- Batu Layar
- Seabell.

In addition, some areas were identified as being suitable for restricting snorkelling.

These sites were proposed DESPITE the fact that restricting access would cause significant inconvenience to some operators, but a consensus was reached that this short term inconvenience was necessary to protect coral reefs for the long term. As a compromise, and to minimise inconvenience, it was agreed that where possible only PART of the site would be closed, allowing at least some operation at the sites.

The criteria for selecting reefs for MONITORING bleaching are different from the criteria for selecting reefs for CLOSURE to recover from bleaching. However, DMPM did not apply these differing criteria when selecting sites, and unfortunately the list of sites for closure therefore officially remained unchanged from the list of monitoring sites when the list was published in a press release on Wednesday.

The different list of sites in the news report, together with a certain amount of lack of clarity in the news report, has created significant confusion among operators – and customers. This has happened in Redang and Tioman, too. We have dealt with many, many enquiries and complaints over the last couple of days, from dive operators, resorts – and even divers, who are unsure of what is going on.

To confirm the current situation: I heard from the State Director for Terengganu Marine Parks today, who informed me that the formal Cabinet paper now under preparation (the necessary document to confirm the legal closing of areas) will list the sites shown above as the sites to restrict access to as they are identified as the most resilient. Steps will soon be taken to install lines and buoys to mark off relevant areas. To repeat: to my knowledge, where possible only PART of the site will be closed to diving/snorkelling activities.

I can only say that I regret any inconvenience that you have suffered to date. I know some of you have received cancellations, and I have raised that matter with DMPM. However, I do believe that restricting access to some sites will contribute to the recovery of coral reefs around the Perhentian Islands, and that this is an important part of managing reefs for the future. Your continued support and cooperation is essential if the closure programme is to be successful and I hope that we will continue to receive this despite these short term uncertainties and difficulties.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Regards

Julian Hyde
General Manager
Reef Check Malaysia Bhd

Note: BuBu Long Beach at Perhentian Kecil supports restricted access to snorkelling/diving site deemed necessary as short term measures that will contribute to the recovery of coral reefs around Perhentian Islands.



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ANNOUNCEMENT - PERHENTIAN ISLAND CHALLENGE 2010


ANNOUNCEMENT – PERHENTIAN ISLAND CHALLENGE 2010

This is the time of the year to prepare for Perhentian Island Challenge 2010 (PIC 2010). Subject to approval from the State Government of Terengganu, PIC 2010 is scheduled to be held in Perhentian Island on 15th – 17th October 2010.

Over the past years we have been guilty of drumming down the event, making it too easy. This year we are going back to our original intentions to make it an endurance event to ‘Discover your Limits’.

This year we will have trail running and some swimming in the sea. Previously the event has been for teams of two, and as we shall dispense with using kayaks, this year will be an individual event.

We shall have categories for:
Elite men
Elite women
Novice men
Novice women

We shall be using trails on the big and small islands and to get from one island to the other we will either swim or use inflatable tubes. Where we have a swimming section then a buoyancy aid will be mandatory.

The event will start at the Kampong and then cross the sea channel to the big island where there will be a run which we anticipate to be 1 hour. Then it’s back to the small island and completes a run round the island with a bit of swimming thrown in. This we expect the front runners to complete in 2 hours.

As usual we will have our tented camp for accommodation for participants where meals will be served.

We are limiting the participants to 500 pax, of which 100 are reserved for the elite category. If we have fewer than 20 entrants for a category that category will be cancelled.

We are sending out this flyer to encourage you to participate and express your interest.

Our next flyer will provide the entry form and pricing.

Please do not hesitate to reply with your ideas to info@perhentianislandchallenge.com

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Thank You

PIC Adventures Sdn Bhd



BuBu Resort Perhentian Island Malaysia

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Coral bleaching

Coral bleaching is the whitening of corals, due to stress-induced expulsion or death of their symbiotic, zooxanthellae, or due to the loss of pigmentation within the protozoa. The corals that form the structure of the great reef ecosystems of tropical seas depend upon a symbiotic relationship with unicellular flagellate protozoa, called zooxanthellae, that are photosynthetic and live within their tissues. Zooxanthellae give coral its coloration, with the specific color depending on the particular clade. Under stress, corals may expel their zooxanthellae, which leads to a lighter or completely white appearance, hence the term "bleached".

Once bleaching begins, it tends to continue even without continuing stress. If the coral colony survives the stress period, zooxanthellae often require weeks to months to return to normal density.[3] The new residents may be of a different species. Some species of zooxanthellae and corals are more resistant to stress than other species.

Source: WIKIPEDIA

BUBU RESORT

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Top dive spots closed due to coral bleaching


ALOR SETAR: Several dive sites at two of the top diving destinations in the world — the Pulau Tioman marine park in Pahang and Pulau Redang marine park in Terengganu — are temporarily off-limits to divers and snorkellers until end-October.

They are among three marine parks — the other being Pulau Payar in Kedah — which are affected by coral bleaching, a phenomenon caused by global warming that has increased sea water temperature by 2°C to between 28°C and 29°C.

Marine Park Department director-general Abd Jamal Mydin said the affected dive sites in Terengganu were Teluk Dalam, Tanjung Tukas Darat, Tanjung Tukas Laut, Teluk Air Tawar, Pulau Tenggol and Teluk Bakau; and in Pahang they were Pulau Chebeh and Batu Malang.



For more details kindly visit www.thestar.com.my
Courstesy of www.thestar.com.my

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Coral lifeline


ALOR SETAR: Several dive sites at marine parks in the country including the top diving destinations in the world — Pulau Tioman in Pahang and Pulau Redang in Te­­rengganu – have been temporarily closed due to coral bleaching.

Divers and snorkellers are barred from the dive sites until the end of October to protect the corals which have turned white due to global warming



For more detials kindly visit to www.thestar.com.my


COURTESY OF :www.thestar.com.my

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