KUALA LUMPUR – A marine conservation NGO has raised concerns about the risk posed by the post-Covid-19 travel boom on the marine ecosystem, especially in the wake of the government’s move to reopen the country’s borders.
In particular, Reef Check Malaysia pointed to feeding fishes and turtles, stressing that the popular practice promoted by irresponsible tourism operators is actually harmful to marine life.
Images of feeding such wildlife may seem to reflect a joyful holiday moment, but the reality is that people do not see the disturbance the activity can cause.
In a statement, it explained that fish feeding can disrupt the balance of the ecosystem, warning that even a small change can have a huge domino effect.
It can starve fishes to death due to bacteria growth, and change the natural diet of fishes, causing algae and Crown-of-Thorns starfish to bloom, which can kill corals, the NGO said.
“Fish feeding is not a healthy practice especially when it is not part of the fishes' natural diet – for example, bread – and frequent feeding can cause fishes to become ‘domesticated’ and sometimes may become too aggressive towards humans when seeking for food,” it quoted Dr James Tan, a marine biologist at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu’s School of Marine and Environmental Sciences, as saying.
According to RCM, while there has been an increase of 2.94% of live coral cover in 2021, there are still a number of indicators that show coral reef health is being damaged by impacts such as pollution, marine debris, and warm water bleaching.
Unsustainable marine tourism can threaten Malaysia’s marine biodiversity, which in turn, affects those who rely on marine resources as their livelihoods – fisherfolk, businesses, and island communities.
“On your next island holiday, you have a choice. Do not support irresponsible tourism operators. Choose eco-friendly hotels and tour guides,” it said.
It also encouraged green dive operators to help protect coral reefs through sustainable tourism.
Recently, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that Malaysia will be reopening its borders starting April 1. – The Vibes, March 15, 2022
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