KOTA KINABALU: The dive site at Police Beach off Gaya Island will be temporarily closed from today for recovery work .
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said climate change has led to an increase in sea temperatures.
"It has caused coral bleaching, reduced biodiversity and it has affected the ecotourism appeal.
"Excessive tourism activities also put pressure on the natural ecosystem, including damage to coral reefs due to uncontrolled snorkelling and diving.
"To alleviate additional pressure on the reefs, we need to close areas experiencing more than 50 per cent bleaching," she said, referring to Police Beach.
Her speech was read by Sabah Parks Board of Trustees chairman Peter Lintar in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park off Manukan Island.
There are 32 dive sites in the park.
Liew added that the relevant agencies would enhance conservation efforts for coral reefs that are threatened by climate change and human activities through coral restoration programmes.
During the presentation on coral bleaching, park researcher Elvin Michael said bleaching was detected about 10 years ago, and similar incidents have been happening more frequently here and also in Semporna.
He said this year, bleaching incidents have been detected by researchers due to rising sea surface temperatures.
He said based on continuous surveys from multidisciplinary agencies and non-governmental organisations, corals at a depth of 3m to 17m are affected by the bleaching.
However, Elvin said based on the Meteorological Department's forecast, Sabah is expected to receive rain, and it is hoped this will reduce the sea water temperature and thus aid coral recovery.
Also present were Sabah Parks Director Dr Maklarin Lakim and park manager Kenneth Conrad Sion.