Conference proposes method to support marine conservation in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: A mapping exercise during a marine conservation conference here found that 17 coastal community groups are protecting more than 12,000ha of marine and coastal areas in Sabah.

These areas spanned from Mantanani Island to the districts of Kudat and Pitas in the north as well as the Sandakan, Kinabatangan and Semporna on the East coast.

This was the finding during the Sabah Conference on Community Based Marine Resource Management here on Oct 11 and 12.

Members from indigenous communities, government agencies, civil society groups and research institutes came together to streamline efforts in expanding the protection of Sabah’s marine environment during the event.

From the brainstorming held, the multiple stakeholders have proposed to recognise the identified marine and coastal areas as other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs).

They envisioned the measures as a means to support marine conservation in Sabah, by harnessing the power of local solutions in the face of global climate change.

The event was co-hosted by the Sabah Forestry Department in collaboration with WWF-Malaysia, Forever Sabah, Pacos Trust and Reef Check Malaysia.

It involved participation from the Sabah Biodiversity Centre, Sabah Parks, Fisheries Department, the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry as well as indigenous communities.

During the conference, Dr Joseph Tangah from the Sabah Forestry Department said collaborative management of protected areas was important, including in identifying and recognising the OECMs.

“The department acknowledges the significant contribution of coastal communities in protecting 30% of Malaysian seas and coasts by 2030, aligning with the global conservation target set during the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity,” he said.

Meanwhile, conversations between members from various small-scale and artisanal fishing communities have led to outcomes, including an expressed desire by the community to address the depletion of fisheries resources.

This was in addition to the degradation of marine environments and coastal area management through community protocols, among others.

Community members also described how local government bodies can further support ongoing work to enrich coastal livelihoods, alongside streamlining customary laws within a policy framework.

Ishak Kimrah, from Kampung Melanta Silawa of Bait Island in Tawau said they were excited to collaborate further with relevant agencies towards a global recognition of community-managed areas.

WWF-Malaysia’s marine habitat manager Choo Poh Leem We said they were keen to work with stakeholders to expand marine environmental protection, especially in the form OECMs, which is globally recognised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

“This effort also affirms our organisational goals in conserving 30% of Malaysian seas and coasts by 2030,” she said.

Reef Check Malaysia programme manager Adzmin Fatta added that the OECM was an all-inclusive platform that engages everyone, specifically youth and women.

“We are excited for the opportunity to drive OECMs,” he said.