An aerial view of Mantanani Island in Kota Belud.
KOTA BELUD: Tourism players are slowly opening the door to local guests to embrace mother nature.
With standard operating procedures (SOP) in place during the Recovery Movement Order (RMCO), some 15 avid divers got together for Ocean Clean Up Dive 2020 on June 7 at Mantanani Island, Kota Belud in Sabah to see our ocean after some three months of being closed to public.
The dive team comprised guests and members of Mantanani Divers, Reef Check Malaysia and Empire Scuba Supplies Sdn Bhd.
The early morning much anticipated dive turned heartbreaking when divers came across a dead juvenile Hawksbill sea turtle caught in ghost nets left by illegal fishermen to make a quick catch.
Mantanani Divers marketing director Michelle Wong who was with the dive team said encountering sea turtles caught in ghost nets was just heartbreaking.
A dead juvenile Hawksbill turtle caught in a ghost net.
“Seeing sea turtles, especially a juvenile caught in ghost nets is something no divers like to encounter.
“It just sadden us how such beautiful and harmless animals are treated like that,” she said, adding that the team worked together to remove the dead turtle from the net before the carcass was taken back to shore to be handed to the Wildlife Department for further action.
Two weeks later on June 20, the team encountered another dead sea turtle in another sea cleanup – an adult Hawksbill caught in a ghost nets again in Mantanani Island.
According to Michelle, the turtle was believed to have been dead for more than a week.
A diver removes the dead adult Hawkbill turtle from a ghost net.
“All that was left was its skin and shell,” she stated, adding that the team again removed the carcass from the ghost nets.
During their dive on June 20, they had a terrifying encounter when two explosions from fish bombs were heard underwater.
“We were only about 20 minutes into our second dive when the explosions occurred. Before the first explosion, some of us heard a ‘hissing’ sound and thought it was a boat moving above us.
“I remember Robert, my dive buddy pulling me down from the surface as he initially thought the sound came from the boat propeller.
“However, just seconds after Robert pulled me down, we all heard an explosion. It was so loud that it felt like the bomb had gone off where we were diving.
“We immediately checked that everyone was alright. About two minutes later, we heard a second explosion about some metres away. Fearing for our safety, we decided to end the dive early,” said Michelle, adding that both explosions occurred during their dive at Police Gate, one of several dive sites in Mantanani Island.
Though fish bombing is illegal in Sabah as explosions destroy marine ecosystem such as reefs and corals as well as pose danger to recreational divers, it is still rampant, especially around dive spots.
Ghost nets found along coral reefs in Mantanani Island.
Aaron Gavin, a dive instructor from Empire Scuba Supplies Sdn Bhd, said beside fish bombs, fishermen have also opted to use a primitive method known as chicken rigs, where fishing hooks are connected along fishing lines and placed underwater around coral reefs.
“Big fish or turtles will normally get hooked by the lines as they move underwater.This method is not only illegal but also dangerous to recreation diver.
“Imagine a diver getting entangled in the fishing hooks and fishing line while taking photos of coral or small creatures underwater. How are they going to free themselves?”
As a dive instructor, Aaron claimed to have come across many chicken rigs while taking guests on dives.
“During our dives in Mantanani, both on June 7 and June 20, I saw many fishing lines with fishing hooks along coral reefs.
“We believe some villagers had decided to set up these lines in the water as they were unable to buy chemicals or other equipment to make fish bomb during the MCO period,” he said.
Beautiful coral reefs and sea turtle in Mantanani Island.
Aaron added the fish bombing they encountered during their dive had been reported and shared in a WhatsApp group called ‘Sabah Fish Bombing’ and he hoped authorities in the group chat would take action.
The owner and founder of Mantanani Divers, Robert Thien also hoped the relevant authorities would take stern action against those responsible for destroying the ocean and endangering the lives of divers by their irresponsible action.
“Sabah is blessed with many beautiful dive sites but how are we going to attract local tourists to enjoy our diving activities if we cannot ensure the beauty and safety of our oceans?
Michelle, Aaron, Robert, Adzmin and dive teams after Ocean Dive Clean Up 2020 at Mantanani Island in Kota Belud. — All photos courtesy from Mantanani Divers and Reef Check Malaysia
“We hope during the RMCO period, efforts are taken to focus on recovery not only from the pandemic but also through actions that really strengthen the resilience and sustainability of the ocean.
“Even if another outbreak strikes, at least we know that our local tourists are confident about local tourism services,” he shared.
Meanwhile, Reef Check Malaysia founder Adzmin Fatta said protection of coral reefs from illegal fish bombing or underwater vandalism should be given due attention.
“The health of coral reefs can boost the tourism sector especially through diving and snorkeling. The state government had earlier this year announced both Mantanani and Darvel Bay in Lahad Datu would be gazetted as Marine Protected Areas before 2023.
“We welcome such commitment by the state government in its efforts to achieve 10 per cent target of protecting the waters around Sabah,” said Adzmin.
Adzmin stated that Reef Check Malaysia hoped with the gazette plan efforts would be carried out to ensure the sustainability of the island’s resources and economic viability for islanders, including the tourism sector.