NGO hopes for more funding to curb fish bombing activities in Sabah

 By Olivia Miwil - March 8, 2021 @ 3:08pm

Rampant fish bombing in Sabah are not only killing the fishes but also damaging corals. - Photo courtesy of Monica Chin.

KOTA KINABALU: Stop Fish Bombing Malaysia (SFB) is hoping to get more financial support to enhance surveillance in Sabah waters.

Its executive director Terence Lim said this year, the non-governmental organisation (NGO) had received funding to cover another 50 square kilometres to help deter fish bombing.

"The additional extension has increased the total surveillance area to about 100 square kilometres.

"However, this is only a small fraction of Sabah's coastline of more than 2,500 kilometres along with some remote areas without cell phone coverage to link the sensors," he said, adding there is a need for continuous financial support to achieve the goal of making Sabah free from fish bombing.

He was speaking during the Blu Hope Commonwealth Day webinar for a Fish Bomb Free Sabah.

Other speakers were Stop Fish Bombing USA director of technology Clark Dunson, Earth island Institute director Dieter Rudolph, Blu Hope founder Simon Christopher and co-founder Monica Chin.

SFB has been actively conducting trials since 2017 and deployed underwater sensors in 2019 off Sabah waters particularly in Kota Kinabalu and some parts of Semporna.

This year's funding of USD50,000 (RM203,701) is for 10 sensors and its upkeep of a year. The radar and drone were donated by the Anthropocene Institute.

"We will incorporate radars with cameras and drones to enhance the capability of our underwater sensors.

"We are also making progress in the development of boats mounted with sensors, which could enhance and extend the coverage.

"We can provide the best and real time information and visual confirmation to the local enforcement team to respond," he said, adding such information could help avoid miscommunication between those who report the incidents and enforcement teams.

Lim said however, the development of technology was only part of the solution as there were communities directly and indirectly affected with the initiative in stopping fish bombing.

He added that SFB is also raising funds not only for technology development, deployment and maintenance of their sensors and equipment but also to help the community.

"We hope with this partnership with Blu Hope, it will be able to generate more funds to achieve the goal of a fish bomb free Sabah, maintain the sensors and help generate alternative incomes for the coastline and island communities."

Chin, who is also Blu Hope community director, added that they have created many awareness programmes by engaging locals to educate the community.