KOTA KINABALU: A recent satellite imaging indicates high risk of coral bleaching in Sabah. Reef Check Malaysia senior programme manager Adzmin Fatta said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Satellite Bleaching Alert has now escalated from Watch to Warning level for corals in Sabah.
"In Sabah, Reef Check Malaysia is working closely with Sabah Parks, Department of Fisheries Sabah, and Sabah Biodiversity Centre to closely monitor the situation.
"We also got our local Community Marine Conservation Groups ready to be deploy to conduct permanent bleaching monitoring protocol once it activated," he said in his Facebook page.
According to the non-governmental organisation's website, coral bleaching is an ocean distress signal due to environmental changes.
The bleaching occurs when corals expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn white.
The loss of these algae, which provide essential nutrients and vibrant colors, threatens the survival of coral reefs, which are crucial to marine biodiversity.
Adzmiin said this is the time to start for awareness outreach, regular monitoring and reporting.
"We’ve also developed a standardized bleaching monitoring protocol — get in touch if you need guidance.
"Structured monitoring becomes critical if bleaching exceeds 20 per cent during this alert phase."
Yesterday, during Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor's visit to east coast, while he commended marine parks such as Sipadan island are managed sustainably, but he pointed out other islands that require attention.
He said Mabul and Kapalai islands were facing increasing pressure from congestion and rapid development.
"If not managed properly, we risk damaging the natural assets that are the state's economic goldmine. :Sustainability must be seen as an investment, not a burden,"
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