KUDAT: The teamwork of more than 100 people from various stakeholders has seen positive results from a coral restoration project in Tun Mustapha Parks (TMP) here.
The ocean governance project, which was funded by the European Union in 2022, saw participation from government agencies, community-based organisations, non-government organisations, and tourism operators.
Using an approach dubbed Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System (MARRS), it makes the restoration process more effective, time-saving, and easily scalable.
It entails growing coral fragments on large hexagonal frames coated in coral sand known as "Reef Star", which over time, develops into larger reef structures.
"Approximately 1,512 square metres of degraded reef area near Maliangin Kecil Island, Pitas Floating Coral Bar, and Tajau Laut were revitalised with 1,300 units of Reef Stars, restoring 18,600 coral fragments from over 30 species.
"After 6 months in one of four coral restoration sites, there was a remarkable 9.9 per cent increase in live coral cover and a 20-fold increase in total fish biomass.
"The coral restoration project has provided a solid foundation for Sabah Parks to continue restoring coral reefs in TMP, all while implementing measures to reduce local stressors on this precious marine habitat," according to a statement issued by WWF-Malaysia.
In a workshop held last month here, stakeholders came together to forge the TMP Coral Restoration Roadmap, marking a historic commitment to strengthening coral ecosystems.
TMP, which is the largest multi-use marine park in Malaysia, spanning nearly 900,000 hectares across 50 islands in the northern tip of Sabah.
Those corals are facing several threats which include fish bombing, crushed by vessels and climate change.