KOTA KINABALU: The gazettement of Darvel Bay in Lahad Datu as a marine protected area (MPA) will benefit the people and the marine environment.
"It will provide a safe haven for depleted fish stocks to recover as MPAs increase food security and reduce poverty.
"By establishing MPAs, exploited fish are able to live longer, grow bigger to reach maturity and yield healthier offspring, which then increase the resilience of the fish population," said WWF-Malaysia chief executive officer Sophia Lim.
She said this during the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between WWF-Malaysia and Sabah Parks at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here yesterday.
It was witnessed by Sabah Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
She said Malaysia only protected less than five per cent of the total marine area in the country and needed to heighten its conservation efforts to prevent further environmental damage.
"WWF-Malaysia will continuously advocate for the protection of 30 per cent of the country's maritime waters (approximately 16.9 million ha), for the benefit of nature, livelihoods, businesses and future generations," said Lim.
The agreement is for a five-year collaboration to carry out research and studies for the gazettement of Darvel Bay Park in Lahad Datu, which is being established in line with Sabah Parks' Strategic Plan 2025.
The strategic plan directly supports the Sabah government's plan in gazetting the sea area of 117,000 ha and 56 islands within Darvel Bay as a MPA by 2023, said Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin in his speech delivered by Joniston.
Sabah Parks director Dr Maklarin Lakim said the proposed Darvel Bay Park aims to cover the concept of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)'s category 6 Protected Area with sustainable use of natural resources to support the protection of coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds.
"At the same time, Darvel Bay Park will be co-managed with key stakeholders and local community members to ensure equal rights and opportunities for sustainable development," he said.
He said the collaboration between Sabah Parks and WWF-Malaysia will bring hope for multiple stakeholders to jointly fight for habitat protection in light of the Sabah government's goal of gazetting 13 per cent of Sabah's coastal marine areas as MPA by 2023.