Our Planet

Protecting the coral reefs of Pulau Tioman

Passionate diver and conservationist Alvin Chelliah dedicates his life to educating the next generation on the importance of protecting our waters

Updated 2 years ago · Published on 18 Jul 2021 10:00AM

Protecting the coral reefs of Pulau Tioman
Alvin Jeyanathan Chelliah's reef work requires regular monitoring. – Pic courtesy of Reef Check Malaysia, July 17, 2021

by Dharshini Ganeson

WHEN Alvin Jeyanathan Chelliah was a child, his parents took him – together with his siblings – to the beaches of Pulau Perhentian, off Terengganu, during the school holidays.

It was there that Alvin learnt to snorkel and dive and also develop his love of coral reefs, but he soon realised that protecting the reefs was just as important. 

Over the years thousands of tourists have thronged Malaysia’s idyllic island resorts, Tioman being a hot favourite and many had left a trail of damage and so Alvin was moved to do his part to save them from permanent destruction.

As Alvin put it, “At that time conservation was not highlighted’ as it is now."

Removing ghost nets with the help of the Tioman Marine Conservation Group (TMCG). - Pic courtesy of TMCG
Removing ghost nets with the help of the Tioman Marine Conservation Group (TMCG). - Pic courtesy of TMCG

So it was no wonder Alvin chose to do Marine Science and was ‘fortunate’, as he said, to be accepted into University Malaysia Sabah. Upon completion of his degree, Alvin felt he had only ‘touched the top of the iceberg’ and so he enrolled into Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia for his Masters.

Soon after graduating in 2011, Alvin ended up as a trainee volunteer diver with Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) – an NGO formed in 2007 – for the primary purpose of protecting reefs and marine life.

His marine biologist wife, Chen Sue Yee, also joined him in his work for Reef Check Malaysia.

According to Alvin, Sue Yee’s focus was on research, compilation of data analysis and reporting of the various conservation efforts undertaken over the years. This aspect is important as they regularly prepare reports for their donors and also for the grants they receive, especially if they were from regular donors.

Yayasan Sime Darby Malaysia (YSD), one of RCM’s stalwart donors, funded the setting up of the recycling system, the responsible tourism project among resorts, dive shops, snorkel operators, the training of local islanders and also the founding of the Tioman Marine Conservation Group (TMCG). 

Alving measures the size of the corals. – Pic courtesy of Reef Check Malaysia
Alving measures the size of the corals. – Pic courtesy of Reef Check Malaysia

TMCG is made up of a group of islanders who have been trained in conservation work since 2015.

According to Alvin, through the TMCG much has been achieved.

“Around 45 local islanders have been trained to help with conservation, for example, how to dive and monitor reef health, to install mooring buoys for boats, remove ghost nets that have been lost or abandoned at sea as they can still continue to trap and kill marine life,” said Alvin.

“Overall, the Malaysian government is also supportive of RCM, which has received funding from the Department of Marine Parks Malaysia and the Ministry of Finance." 

With the pandemic still on, Alvin said their funding was still ongoing and this allowed them to carry on their conservation work at Tioman.

Working with locals

Secondary students attend Alvin's sharing session on the importance of conservation efforts in Tioman. - Pic courtesy of TMCG
Secondary students attend Alvin's sharing session on the importance of conservation efforts in Tioman. - Pic courtesy of TMCG

‘Cintai Tioman’, an initiative born in 2014 resulted in Alvin working with local villagers on the island to identify all the local threats and find solutions together.

The idea was to build capacity within the local community to be involved in coral reef conservation efforts.

“Over the years, we have been talking to the local community and businesses about the importance of coral reefs.

“We organised monthly sessions with the primary and secondary school students, both in the classroom and the field. 

“To show them what we were doing, we took them swimming, snorkelling and trekking, and shared with them the do’s and don’ts of what constitutes coral reef protection,” said Alvin, and this has been going on for a few years.

“We hope they will absorb the importance of protecting the reefs,” added Alvin, who regularly has interactions with the children in their classrooms to explain the marine life ecosystem.

“Most of the resorts and chalets here are locally owned and RCM introduced responsible tourism practices based on the Asean Green Hotel Standards for chalets and resorts on the island. With 70% participation, the results are indeed encouraging.

“This has been an important part of our conservation efforts and many locals are involved in our recycling efforts.

“RCM trained and certified 60 local snorkel guides to be role models and to provide tourists with memorable pictures and snorkelling adventures without damaging the reef,” shared Alvin. 

Alvin interacts with Standard 5 students in a session on marine life. - Pic courtesy of TMCG
Alvin interacts with Standard 5 students in a session on marine life. - Pic courtesy of TMCG

“We assisted 35 boat operators to obtain their captain’s licence for tourism purposes.

“In bonding with the locals, we want them to learn that they can earn an income without harvesting from the reefs,” added Alvin, and this is the crux of reef protection.

“Many Malayisans are not aware that Tioman is a marine park, hence it is against the law to harvest marine life such as corals or shells to be sold as souvenirs." 

After the villagers are made aware of this, they inform the tourists who come to the island that nothing can be removed in terms of marine life.

“Among the conservation projects undertaken by the villagers, in Kg Air Batang, the community has established a giant clam management project to reduce poaching by other villagers and to create a new tourist attraction.

“In Kg Salang the ‘ketua kampung’ or village head, is working on a turtle hatchery, while Kg Mulut, located in the south of the island is rebranding itself as a trekking destination into the interior of the island as opposed to just being a fishing village,” said Alvin.

Alvin and his family take part in a breakfast discussion with locals. - Pic courtesy of TMCG
Alvin and his family take part in a breakfast discussion with locals. - Pic courtesy of TMCG

The key, as the villagers continue to earn a good income, is sustainability.

“To me, it has been fulfilling to see how over the years, more and more islanders have been involved in conservation efforts, via the TMCG. 

"This is a stark difference to the generation before them who were mere observers from the sidelines.” – The Vibes, July 17, 2021

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