LAHAD DATU: Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) has suggested a dedicated Bleaching Response Committee to be formed to address the coral bleaching incidents in Sabah.
Recently, the world's coral reefs have been declared to be experiencing its fourth mass coral bleaching event, due to the rise in sea surface temperatures.
Coral bleaching occurs when corals expel symbiotic algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn white and potentially die if the stress persists.
In Sabah, this phenomenon could devastate marine ecosystems that rely on coral reefs for biodiversity, fisheries, and tourism.
It threatens livelihoods, food security, and the overall health of coastal communities dependent on these ecosystems.
RCM said that it has been actively working with Sabah Parks, Borneo Marine Research Institute, and local conservation groups to monitor coral bleaching around Sabah.
Based on the preliminary findings, 63 sites have been reported to experience coral bleaching.
Out of these 63 sites, one falls under the Extreme Severe Bleaching category (more than 80 per cent bleaching), seven are categorised as severe bleaching (51-80 per cent), 16 are in the Moderate Bleaching category (11-50 per cent), 34 show mild or low bleaching (1 to 10 per cent ), and five sites show no bleaching.
"On sites with high severity of coral bleaching, RCM advised the site to be closed from any activities that may further elevate its level of stress and ultimately compromise its survival.
"Establishing a dedicated Bleaching Response Committee will also facilitate discussions, coordinate response efforts, and oversee the implementation of the response plan.
"This committee should include representatives from relevant government agencies, research institutions, local communities, and stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive approach to managing coral bleaching events," it said in a statement.
Meanwhile, RCM said compared to other sites in Sabah, Darvel Bay's reefs are fortunate to experience relatively fewer bleaching impacts.
However, throughout the survey, RCM observed human activities like fish bombing, trash pollution, ghost nets, and anchoring had posed additional threats to these reefs and potentially reduced their resilience.
During the survey, the team also removed 263 numbers of Crown-of-Thorns starfish (COT) from several survey sites.
COT is a corallivore or coral feeder which can cause significant damage to coral reefs especially during an outbreak.
Last year, 3,550 COTs were successfully removed from Darvel Bay waters through a collaborative effort between RCM, local conservation divers, Sabah Parks, and Fisheries Department.