What's Up With Our Reefs

"Oh Lord, My God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the works Thy hands hath made...how great Thou art..."

Recently, I read Reef Check Malaysia's 2007 Survey Report. Things weren't too encouraging. A total of 33 surveys were conducted last year at 21 sites on 4 islands: Tioman, Tenggol, Redang and Perhentian. Here are some salient points from the report:

(1) The reefs are only in "fair" condition, with 42% hard coral coverage.

(2) The numbers of fish species targeted for food consumption are low in most areas, but fish species targeted for the aquarium trade are relatively abundant.

(3) The number of invertabrates targeted for food consumption and souvenir trade are low in all areas.

(4) Worst reef conditions were found in Perhentian with only 34% live coral cover. Tioman recorded the highest, with Tenggol a close second.

(5) All islands face key issues that have negative impacts on their coral reefs such as sewage pollution (resulting from rapid development of tourism facilities), poor solid waste management (this I've observed myself when I was in Perhentian a couple of years ago), physical impacts to reefs due to large visitor numbers, increased siltation from development projects and destructive fishing.


The Report put forward recommendations that were targeted mainly at government agencies, resort/dive operators and marine park authorities, but here are some things that you and I can do to help preserve our national treasure:

(1) Practise everyday environmental-friendly habits that improve pollution in general, stuff like minimising usage of electricity/water, recycling, etc....because the things that contribute to pollution, climate change and global warming is affecting ocean temperatures and subsequently harming coral reefs and marine life.

(2) Please lah don't order shark fin's soup. Shark fin is only there for the texture of the soup and does not enhance the taste at all, so whether you have the fin in there or not will not affect the taste of the soup.

(3) When at island resorts, go easy with the freshwater used for bathing, toilets, etc.

(4) Recycle as much as possible, and dispose of rubbish in designated bins.

(5) When snorkelling/diving, watch it and don't step on/crush/poke the coral reefs/marine life and send them to their death.

The Muck of Lembeh

Lembeh Straits in Sulawesi, Indonesia....claimed as muck diving capital of the world. Having been there last week, I can say that there's truth to that claim.

Add to it frogfish capital of the world too! :) We'd see frogfishes of different colours and sizes at almost every dive. Pygmy seahorses! 4 on a single fan at this site called Nudi Retreat. And I'm continually amazed at how the cuttlefishes change colours....flamboyant cuttlefish on one dive too! :) Mimic octopus, and even this electric clam which emits neon-like lines when light is shone on it....wow wow wow. Behold our Creator God.

Unfortunately, there were heaps of rubbish both on water surface and bottom of sea. It does put into perspective the topside realities:

1. The reality of human sin: The damages caused to the ocean and marine life find their root in the fundamental flaw of human sin (greed translated to uncontrolled development, irresponsibility translated to bad handling of resources, etc etc etc). How we need Jesus Christ.

2. The reality of man's place/position in this world/creation: God gave man responsibility over the earth, and basically whatever we do as humans has a direct effect on the world we live in.

Unfortunately, because we don't see it clearly and immediately, oceans and marine life kinda gets ignored in the whole "save the environment" scheme. But they DO play a significant and important role in the balance of nature along with forests, land animals, dry land, etc and humans.

Spare a thought for the oceans, and let's do our bit. Small as it may seem, it'll go a long way. Even if it means just using a LITTLE extra effort to get up and switch off the light in that room that no one is using, or just keeping that little rubbish of a tissue in the car for a little while until you find a proper place to dispose of it.

Arabian nights...are cold in winter

The last time we went to Qatar in September 2006, we touched down at 6.30am in 31 degrees celcius conditions.

A couple of weeks ago, we touched down in Qatar again at 6.30am, but in 9 degrees celcius conditions. @_@

We expected it to be cool, but never thought it would be so cold...silap also lah, we never check properly but just assume that gulf countries (read, desert) could never dip below 10 degrees C.

Brrrr.

Deserts do give the best sunsets I've ever seen, next to those at the seaside.

Food was excellent...I enjoyed arabic food extensively. So much meat. Lamb, yummmm.....

Speaking of food, it's time to dig in to Chinese New Year goodies and revel in the festivities! :)

5th day of New Year, i'm off to Sulawesi, Indonesia for diving....my first overseas dive trip! :)

Happy Chinese New Year!!!