We are reaching out to ask for your help in funding our coral reef research this season!
We include the likes of Hidayah Halid, Norhidayah Tumiran, Alanah Campbell & Melissa Versteeg. We are the team that fills the Perhentian Marine Research Station (PMRS) which is located on the smaller Perhentian Island of Malaysia. Our station combines volunteer & group programmes with scientific marine research, where the former is used to promote environmental ambassadorship, in addition to creating the necessary funds for the latter.
As you are probably well aware, the outbreak of Covid-19 has created massive restrictions with widespread financial, social, and health consequences for all of us. Besides major impacts on human society, these restrictions directly influence our marine systems. The MCO (Movement Control Order) has prohibited all in-water activities around the Perhentian Islands Marine Park, which makes 2020 a unique time to assess the impacts of (lack of) tourism, (illegal) fishing, and reef resilience.
..Our funding goal..
Collected funds will be used to cover the scientific dives needed for the 2020 season. These include dives that monitor the overall state of the reef, assess specific indicators such as coral health and benthic substrate cover, and survey fish species abundance and density.
With your help we can continue to assess the reefs of the Perhentians for the 2020 season, so that we can advise management to help conserve this sensitive and invaluable ecosystem.
We are looking to raise RM 6000, or USD 1336.14, or Euro 1263.62!The amount consists of a monthly research dive budget of RM1000, or USD 229.36, or Euro 210.60. We hope to start in May 2020 (once the MCO is lifted) and will continue until October 2020. The monthly budget includes tank refills, small maintenance costs, boat transport to and from sites, boat transport to and from the equipment storage (our tanks are stored at another location, which is accessed by boat), boat transport from our village (Kampung Pasir Hantu) and the purchase of several key survey tools such as waterproof casings, dive slates, pencils, and a desperately needed fully functional transect line.
..A bit more context..
The Perhentian Islands were established as a Marine Protected Area in 1985. Before then, the marine systems of the islands were subject to destructive overfishing, thus demanding pro-active management to secure coastal protection, food sources, fish breeding grounds, and local livelihoods. The Perhentians have since become a popular tourist destination due to dense coral carpeting and high species diversity found in these waters. Being part of the Coral Triangle, the reefs are able to house an abundance of life virtually unrivalled by other biological systems around the world.
As of 2007, the Perhentian Islands are included in a nationwide yearly survey assessing the health of Malaysia’s reefs. 2016 was the last year that a small percentage of the reefs surveyed around the Perhentian Islands were found to be in ‘excellent’ health. In a mere four years, continued reef degradation has resulted in a 30% increase in reefs found to be in a ‘poor’ state of health. These results clearly demonstrate a need for continued research to inform management plans and call for effective conservation action.
..Terima kasih!
