Marine park regulations
Corals can be easily damaged like these at the Marine Park Centre in Redang. This is why we need to do our part to protect them.
The authorities have laid down park regulations to protect the marine environment
in Redang. We can help by obeying these rules and communicating them to friends
and family who visit. As visitors, we have the privilege to enjoy the natural
beauty of the coral reef environment and its aquatic inhabitants. With this
privilege comes the responsibility to guard, care for and protect this
fragile environment.
take nothing but memories,
leave nothing but footprints...
Our attitude toward coral reefs and their marine inhabitants determine how we treat them. When we make an effort to understand and appreciate them, we will learn to care for them. When we realize that reefs take hundreds or even thousands of years to form, we will be careful not to damage or break them. When we learn that reefs are sensitive to water quality, we will be careful not to litter or allow our wastes to discharge into the water. Education and awareness breeds appreciation which in turn fosters a caring attitude for our marine environment.
Reefs are constantly under attack from natural and human threats. Whilst there is little we can do to address natural threats, we can do our part by controlling our actions and choices to minimize the damage caused by human activities. We can all be responsible visitors by following the 3 simple rules below.
No collecting
Do not collect any marine life.
Leave things where they are.
Do not remove anything whether dead or alive such as seashells, molluscs, corals and fishes. All marine life, whether dead or alive, plays a part in sustaining the health of the coral reef ecosystem. Everything is recycled, nothing is wasted. Even dead coral, coral rubble and empty shells can provide protection and homes for many species of organisms. Don't catch fish or other marine life even if you intend to release them later. You may stress, injure or kill them in the process.
No destroying
Do not step on corals.
Photo ©www.cuti.com.my.
Treat corals gently.
Do not kick, stand or step on corals. You will damage or break them. If you have to adjust or clear your mask or snorkel, do it while floating, or swim clear away from the reef before you adjust your equipment. If you are not able to float well, use a life jacket.
Inexperienced snorkellers often damage corals with their fins. To prevent this, some resorts have stopped rental of fins to snorkellers. If you are using fins, make sure you have good buoyancy and can control them well. Fin gently and carefully near corals and avoid going near corals that are in shallow water. Divers should maintain good buoyancy at all times and secure your gauges, lines and other equipment to prevent dragging them over the reef. Do not use knifes or sharp objects to anchor yourself on the reef when fighting currents or when steadying yourself to take photographs.
Fishing is not allowed within the boundaries of the marine park which include waters within 2 nautical miles from the shores of Pulau Redang, Pulau Lima, Pulau Ekor Tebu and Pulau Pinang. You are not allowed to use any kind of equipment or weapon that might harm any aquatic animals and plants or cause damage to the reef structure.
No littering
Do not litter.
Keep it clean.
Throw rubbish into rubbish bins, not on the beach or into the sea. If you come across litter, pick them up and dispose properly. Litter that gets left on the beach can get washed out to sea during high tide. Some litter like plastic bags can kill marine animals such as turtles that mistakenly eat them.
Coral reefs are sensitive to water quality and need light to survive. Polluted waters can reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the corals. Nutrient-rich discharge can cause rapid growth of algae that compete with corals for space and sunlight. Many detergents used for cleaning and washing are also harmful to coral reefs. For this reason, visitors should avoid using their own soaps and detergents in outside showers. Many resorts wash their laundry on the mainland to minimize use of bleach and detergents on the island.
The marine park regulation signboards are displayed at various public locations and prohibits certain activities within 2 nautical miles from the coast of the Redang Island Marine Park. Those caught flouting park regulations can be charged under the Fisheries Act 1985 (reproduced below), fined and/or jailed.
In section 25, the Act states that any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of this Act shall be guilty of an offence and where no special penalty is provided in relation thereto, such person shall be liable to a fine not exceeding twenty thousand ringgit or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or both.
Malaysian fisheries act 1985 (sections 43 & 44)
(1) Any person who in any marine park or marine reserve in Malaysian fisheries waters without the permission of the Director-General in writing commits the following shall be guilty of an offence:
(a) fishes or attempts to fish;
(b) takes, removes or is in possession of any aquatic animal or aquatic plant or part thereof, whether dead or alive;
(c) collects or is in possession of any coral, dredges or extracts any sand or gravel, discharges or deposits any pollutant, alters or destroys the natural breeding grounds or habitat of aquatic life, or destroys any aquatic life;
(d) constructs or erects any building or other structure on or over any land or waters within a marine park or marine reserve;
(e) anchors any vessel by dropping any kind of weight on, or by attaching any kind of rope or chain to, any coral, rock or other submerged object; or destroys, defaces or removes any object, whether animate or inanimate, in a marine park or marine reserve(2) No person shall carry, use or possess within a marine park or marine reserve in Malaysian fisheries waters -
(a) any spring-gun, spear gun, spear fishing equipment, harpoon or suction gun; or
(b) any other kind of weapon potentially harmful to any aquatic plant life, aquatic animal life or to the coral reef structure.
'Pulau Redang Marine Park' (ISBN 983-872-008-9) is a coffee table book containing educational information about Redang and is published by the National Advisory Council for Marine Parks Malaysia. Proceeds from this RM90 book go to the Marine Park Trust Fund of Malaysia which supports the maintenance of Malaysian Marine Parks as well as research and educational programmes in marine biodiversity and ecology.
For more information about marine park conservation at Redang or any other Malaysian marine parks, contact any of the following:
- Department of Marine Park Malaysia (Headquarters)
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
Level 11, Wisma Sumber Asli,
No.25, Persiaran Perdana, 62574 Putrajaya
Tel : 03-8886 1111 (general)
Fax: 03-8888 0489
Website: www.dmpm.nre.gov.my
E-mail : tamanlaut@nre.gov.my
-
Jabatan Taman Laut Negeri Terengganu
(Terengganu Marine Park Dept.)
Kementerian Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar
No 16, Blok B, Bestari Centre Jalan Hiliran,
Pulau Kambing, 20300 Kuala Terengganu
Terengganu Darul Iman
Tel : 09-631 2062
Fax : 09-6227266
E-mail : utlterengganu@nre.gov.my
You can also find information about Malaysian marine parks at the marine park section of the Malaysian Ministry of Environment website. The main page is in Malay but the individual park sections are in English. There is also an educational Marine Education Kit jointly put up by WWF Malaysia, Marine Parks Malaysia and the Ministry of Education.
To find out more about coral reefs & oceans, you can also explore the following links:
