Sabah govt vows crackdown on fish bombing after reefs in Semporna damaged

SEMPORNA, May 26 — Physical damage to the marine ecosystem at the Pulau Selakan Coral Reef Restoration Site here, caused by recent fish bombing activities, will invite firm legal action from the Sabah state government. 

Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the incident, which destroyed an area of about 15 square metres, has disrupted coral reef conservation efforts carried out by various parties over the past two years. 

He said an assessment by the Tun Sakaran Marine Park Research Unit today confirmed that at least 10 reef star structures were affected, involving the destruction of key coral species including Acropora, Pocillopora and Montipora. 

“Preliminary estimates show that maintenance and restoration costs for the affected area could reach RM96,000, while damage to the reef star structures is estimated at RM3,000,” he said in a statement today. 

Commenting on the May 23 incident, Jafry said the suspects are believed to have fled before the enforcement teams arrived, due to the open maritime borders and logistical constraints in the field. 

Jafry said he has since instructed the Sabah Parks management to immediately strengthen strategic measures, including increasing boat assets, utilising drone technology, and establishing permanent control posts in high-risk areas. 

He stressed that the state government will not compromise with any party that threatens biodiversity sustainability and Sabah’s tourism image, and urged the local maritime community to provide information if they detect suspicious activities. — Bernama

المصدر: Malay Mail