MALAYSIA IS ABOUT TO ESTABLISH A 1.6 MILLION HECTARE MARINE PARK

In June, the Tun Mustapha Marine Park and shark sanctuary will officially open. Covering 1.6 million hectares and including 50 islands, it will be the biggest marine protected area in Malaysia.

This June, Malaysia will officially establish the largest Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the country. The Tun Mustapha Park (TMP) will occupy 1.6 million hectares of seascape at the northern tip of Sabah province, Malaysian Borneo. This region contains the second largest concentration of coral reefs in Malaysia. It is also home to thousands of people who depend on its resources. In many ways, it is a microcosm of the entire Coral Triangle bioregion, where environmental protection must be balanced with the needs of growing coastal populations.

Malaysia's Minister for Tourism, Culture & Environment, Datuk Seri Masidi, made the announcement last week. He also declared that Tun Mustapha, along with Malaysia's two other major MPAs, Tun Sakaran and Tunku Abdul Rahman, would become shark sanctuaries. According to Masidi, sharks are a crucial part of Sabah's nature-based tourism industry. "Shark species are vital to the diving business, as it generates about RM380 million (US$9.4 million) per year. We will lose the shark population in 10 years if stakeholders continue serving shark fin soup," he warned.

Managing such an enormous area will require strong collaboration. Policy makers, local communities, NGOs, businesses, and scientists are all coming together to help ensure that the new MPA works. Since TMP will be a multi-use park based on a zoning system, it has taken years of dedication from stakeholders to develop an action plan that balances local and commercial interests with ecological sustainability.

Back in September 2012, a research team comprising 30 marine scientists and volunteers set out on a 19-day expedition to gather data from the diverse marine ecosystems within the soon-to-be-established park. In total, they logged more than 800 hours underwater. Preliminary results found that 57% of the reefs analyzed were in excellent or good condition.

More than 500 reef fish species were recorded, along with numerous coral species, including four rare types previously thought to occur only in Semporna, eastern Sabah, and Berau, Indonesia. However, the expedition also highlighted negative human impacts, including bomb fishing (15 bombs were heard during the trip), overfishing, and pollution. Iconic species like sharks and turtles were conspicuously absent, indicating that the ecosystem is under pressure.

This data conveyed the urgent need for sustainable management in Tun Mustapha Park to preserve existing biodiversity and allow depleted fish stocks and damaged coral to recover. Areas with minimal damage can recover in as little as three to five years, according to WWF Malaysia. Areas with significant damage may require five to ten years or more.

Detailed species data will also inform zoning decisions, such as which areas should be no-take zones and which should allow limited use. Working in tandem with policy makers, local communities, and businesses, science is helping ensure the best approach to managing the Tun Mustapha Marine Park. The area also holds enormous potential for nature-based tourism. Beyond diving, it offers beautiful white sand beaches, scenic islands, and stunning seascapes. Key turtle nesting areas provide opportunities for voluntourism through local charities.

The challenge now is to make it all work.

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