| Hakim Hayat |
A RECENT survey on vast coral reefs across Brunei Darussalam’s waters has indicated damage to a significant portion of the reef, due to pollution and overfishing which is disrupting the ecosystem, a marine conservation expert said yesterday, while calling for local authorities to step up efforts in engaging the community in marine conservation efforts.
Lydia Koehler, who led a team of experts scouring Brunei’s known coral reefs this year, said the outcome from the survey indicates that on average, all the reefs in Brunei are in a fair condition, with 30 per cent hard coral cover and four per cent soft coral cover, which adds up to 34 per cent living coral cover.
“However there is great variance between each and every side…which means some sides are in very good condition, while some are unfortunately in poor condition,” she said.
Koehler, who is currently attending a full-day International Symposium on Marine Biodiv-ersity at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT), told the Sunday Bulletin that the poor condition of the coral reefs was indicated by the lack of herbivore fish that feed on algae and controls algae growth.
She also relayed her concerns about the possible source of pollution coming from sewage channels.
Lydia Koehler, who led a team of experts scouring Brunei’s known coral reefs this year, during an interview with the Sunday Bulletin – HAKIM HAYAT
She mentioned that the reef at Champion Rig was one of those showing significant damage, caused by previous construction and its proximity to oil rigs, while other reefs have been adversely affected by increased algae cover.
Koehler said that significant changes have been recorded from data comparisons from a previous reef check done in Brunei waters four years ago.
“We have seen more parrot fish, but less lobsters for instance, and we discovered that there are not many invertebrate species such as sea cucumbers and sea urchins,” she said, adding that measures must be in place to protect these sea creatures and to reduce the impact of overfishing to coral reefs in Brunei.
Explaining further on the impact of algae to the coral reefs, Koehler said less lobsters and other algae-feeding animals in the ecosystem will have the algae and corals competing for space.
“With the lack of these invertebrates, the whole system might shift and the presence of more algae is less beneficial for other animals,” she said.
When asked to comment whether Brunei Darussalam was doing enough to conserve its marine biodiversity, she said that the country is taking small steps with its Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). “MPAs, in general, can be a very good tool to manage coral reefs and protect marine biodiversity… however, the management should be in place and they need to be compliance measures.. there is a need to engage to understand the importance and how MPAs function,” she stressed.
She also said that Brunei Darussalam is still at a very early stage to realise how MPAs will be implemented in the future.
In 2011, Brunei Darussalam enforced three MPAs in three locations: at Pilong Rock, as well as the Champion and Ampa platforms, where fishermen are prohibited from operating, and are also known as ‘no take zones’.
Statistics from 2001 to 2009 show a staggering increase of fishermen using equipment such as net trawlers, with an increase from 304 operational units in 2001 to 1,534 in 2009.
At the same time, the destructive practice of blast fishing also inhibits the growth of juvenile corals, and it takes several hundred years for coral reefs to rebuild after being destroyed by explosives.
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