MIRI: The Northern Sarawak Journalists Association (NSJA) continued its commitment to marine conservation through the annual Seabed Cleaning Operation at the Miri-Sibuti Coral Reef National Park, one of Malaysia’s largest and richest coral reef ecosystems.
NSJA president Chai Chon Chin said the initiative, introduced in 2019, focused on tackling threats to marine biodiversity, particularly ghost nets and crown-of-thorns starfish.
(Ghost nets are fishing nets that have been abandoned, lost, or discarded in the oceans, seas or rivers.)
“So far, more than 200 kg of ghost nets have been removed from the Miri-Sibuti waters, helping restore damaged reef areas.
“These nets are often called the ‘silent killers’ as they trap fish, turtles, rays and dolphins, while also damaging coral structures that are vital marine habitats.
“Removing them not only saves marine life from suffering but also gives coral ecosystems a chance to recover,” he said after flagging off the first dive mission of the year at Batu Belais, Marina Jetty yesterday (Aug 25).
In a media statement after the dive, NSJA reported that the Batu Belais mission successfully removed 29 kilograms of ghost nets from the seabed.
Programme coordinator Choa Yee Hui said despite strong sea currents, the divers achieved a positive outcome.
“The team descended to a depth of 14 metres and spent 21 minutes underwater focusing on the removal of abandoned nets.
“Although two dives were initially planned, safety remained the priority as strong surface currents disrupted preparations for the second dive,” she explained.
