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KUCHING, July 10: The Sarawak Reef Ball Project has been recognised as the world’s longest artificial reef project by the Reef Ball Foundation of United States of America (USA) today.
To commemorate the milestone, the foundation represented by its chairman Todd Ryan Barber, presented a special certificate and plaque to Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resources (MUDeNR) permanent secretary Datu Zaidi Mahdi during a courtesy call on Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at the latter’s office in Wisma Bapa Malaysia here today.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh; Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) chief executive officer Zolkipli Mohamad Aton; SFC deputy chief executive officer I, Abang Arabi Abang Aimran; SFC Head of Fauna Research and Conservation (Marine) Section, James Bali; Pembinaan Tukun Bebola (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Wilson Mapus; and Reef Innovations Inc president Larry D. Beggs.
According to a media release, the recognition is to honour the Sarawak Reef Ball Project which stands as a testament to the government’s visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to sustainable practices and the protection of Sarawak’s marine biodiversity.
The Sarawak Reef Ball Project started since 1998 with the aim of protecting sea turtle-critical habitats (near nesting beaches) from illegal fishing trawlers that encroach into marine protected areas (MPA).
Up until 2012, around 3,450 reef balls were deployed in Sarawak’s coastal waters which saw the reduction of dead turtles found near major nesting beaches from 100 to less than 10 cases annually.
In 2013 and 2014, a total of 1,500 reef balls were deployed in the zig-zag barrier within Similajau National Park waters which saw the return of turtles with five nests recorded in the beaches after seven years of absence.
The same pattern was used for the deployment of 1,750 reef balls in Miri-Sibuti Coral Reefs National Park to protect turtle migratory routes and restore degraded coral reefs under SFC-Petronas Eco Marine Project between 2015 to 2019.
Meanwhile, under the Sarawak Reef Ball Project Phase 1 (2018-2022), a total of 16,800 reef balls was deployed in State waters from Tanjung Datu to Lawas.
In summary, from 1998 to 2022, a total of 23,500 reef balls have been deployed in Sarawak waters.
On Nov 21 last year, Abang Johari during a Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) session announced the second phase of the Sarawak Reef Ball Project with an allocation of RM30 million, which involves creating more fish breeding areas in identified areas from Kuching to Miri and planting coral reefs to promote sport fishing and scuba diving. — DayakDaily
