KOTA KINABALU: The state government should consider increasing fines or even imprisonment for those found guilty of damaging coral reefs.
Appointed assemblyman Datuk Amisah Yassin said one of Sabah's tourism attractions was its breathtaking natural marine beauty, which is among the world's best natural treasures.
"However, this treasure is increasingly threatened by illegal and irresponsible activities, such as fish bombing, the presence of ships, and unregulated development.
"If no efforts are made to curb these, I fear that one day we will no longer have this treasure," she said during a debate session at the state assembly sitting here.
Amisah also said the destruction of coral reefs, which act as buffers against natural hazards like waves and strong currents, would result in coastal areas being exposed to erosion.
She said recovery measures must be implemented in coral reef areas that have been affected, as it takes years or decades to improve.
She added that the destruction of coral reefs could affect the ecosystem services provided by them.
"A protocol needs to be established to ensure that Sabah's marine ecosystem is preserved.
"Outdated, limited, and weak laws should undergo revision, including increasing fines or imprisonment for those found guilty of damaging coral reefs in its waters.
"The state government, through the authorities, needs to implement a new and more effective approach to safeguarding and addressing the destruction of coral reefs in Sabah's waters."
Amisah said the state government and its related ministries should address the lack of jurisdiction, regulations, and enforcement to ensure that Sabah has stricter legal provisions for environmental protection.
"This priceless natural treasure cannot be preserved with outdated laws, especially as shipping, tourism and other activities continue to rapidly expand.
"Tourists and tourism agents must be guided by ethics, regulations and the law when entering sensitive areas to ensure that all Sabah's marine treasures continue to be preserved for future generations."
Meanwhile, Calvin Chong (Warisan-Elopura), while showing pictures of giant vessels, raised the question of approval for sand-mining work allegedly conducted at Balambangan Island off Kudat waters.
"The issue of Balambangan Island obtaining an Environmental Impact Assessment report, and now a silica mining licence to dredge sand on the island… with ships currently dredging.
"These raise questions about who has received the licence and what type of coral protection measures are in place?"
Balambangan's coastal seas constitute part of a marine park, and it is marked as a Priority Conservation Area under the Coral Triangle.
In February, International Union for Conservation of Nature expert Dr Alfred Raymond had said there should be a detailed cost and benefit analysis versus the blue growth initiative, which is an United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation initiative for the sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture.
Alfred had said that the extraction of silica from the island significantly impacted the environment, human health and communities near the mining operation, especially the Tun Mustapha Marine Park.