KUALA LUMPUR: The Fisheries Department today confirmed that there is mass bleaching of coral reefs in the country due to rising global sea temperatures, which have also affected Malaysia.
The discolouration of the coral reefs, the department said, not only poses a major threat to the health of the marine species but also has serious implications on marine biodiversity, which will subsequently affect the country's tourism industry.
Checks conducted by the department from April until this month showed that more than 50 percent of the coral reefs, especially in marine parks such as Pulau Layar in Kedah; Pulau Perhentian, Pulau Redang, and Pulau Tenggol in Terengganu; as well as Pulau Tioman in Pahang and Pulau Pemanggil in Johor, are affected by mass bleaching events.
"Most of the affected reefs are in shallow waters less than 10 meters deep. The department, together with various parties, is monitoring all these sites to detect changes in the bleaching situation.
"To gain a better understanding of the coral bleaching situation in Malaysian waters, the department urges all parties to report any occurrences of coral bleaching in their respective areas," the department said in a statement.
The department is also collaborating with representatives from Sabah and Sarawak, local researchers, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to gather information and take action to mitigate the impact of the mass bleaching events through the establishment of the Malaysia Coral Bleaching Response Committee (MCBRC).
"If bleaching exceeds 80 percent, further intervention measures will be implemented, including temporary restrictions on access to protect the affected reefs," the statement said.
The department said coral reef bleaching usually occurred as a response by marine species to environmental pressures.
"In Malaysia, mass bleaching events occurred in 1998, 2004, 2010, and between 2014 and 2016.
"Based on global sea temperature trends, there will be more frequent mass bleaching events in the future," the department said.
The department also said it will continue to closely monitoring any mass bleaching events affecting coral reefs in the country.
"The department has already formulated an action plan, and further information will be provided as it becomes available.
"We hope that sea temperatures will return to normal, allowing the coral reefs to recover. This recovery process can take anywhere from several weeks to several months.."