Malaysia – MPA Management

Eco-tourism Supports Marine Conservation Area in Malaysia

Location

Sabah, Malaysia

The challenge

The islands and surrounding waters off the coast of Sandakan in northeast Sabah, Malaysia are home to 600 species of reef fish, 300 species of corals, 25 species of seagrass and algae, and 7 species of giant clams. Part of the Coral Triangle region, this area is known for its exceptional coral reef diversity and its marine resources have high economic value, particularly for fisheries. The reefs however have been subjected to unsustainable fishing and illegal and destructive fishing practices which have compromised coral reef habitats.

Actions taken

SIMCA Malaysia The Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA) is the first and only privately managed no-take marine protected area located 80 km from the coastal town of Sandakan in northeastern Sabah, Malaysia. On December 21, 2001, SIMCA was established in as an IUCN Category II Conservation Area category under the provisions of the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997. Thus, SIMCA is managed to preserve natural conditions and provide opportunities for recreation, so fishing and other extractive activities are prohibited. SIMCA covers 46,317 ha of the Sulu Sea and includes the islands of Billean, Tegapil, and Lankayan.

In 2003, the government of Sabah, in the guise of the Sabah Wildlife Department, a unit within the Ministry of Tourism, Development, Environment, Science and Technology, leased the conservation area to Reef Guardian, a private and not-for-profit organization to manage marine conservation works within SIMCA. The lease agreement runs for 30 years at the cost of RM60,000 (US $19,000) per year. The lease has an optional ten-year extension.

How successful has it been?

Reef Guardian’s primary objective is to manage human activities within SIMCA and allow limited recreational activities on the islands. Reef Guardian sub-leases the islands to Lankayan Island Dive Resort (LIDR) and Billean-Lankayan Resort for RM50,000 per resort per year for ecotourism activities. Additionally, conservation fees of RM25 per person per night are collected from island visitors to fund the management and operation of SIMCA. All funds collected are used to established surveillance systems, marine conservation, research, education, and outreach within SIMCA. Since establishment of the conservation area, incidences of illegal fishing and turtle poaching have declined, and fish abundance and turtle egg laying have increased. For example, sea turtle nesting increased from annual nesting of 100 nests in 2004 to 800 nests in 2021.

Aerial view of Lankayan Island dive resort Achier Chung Reef Guardian

Aerial view of Lankayan Island dive resort. Photo © Achier Chung/Reef Guardian

Currently, Reef Guardian is staffed by 13 personnel who are stationed on Lankayan and Billean Islands. The team is led by a lead marine biologist assisted by an operational team that consists of marine scientists and enforcement personnel. The field team is responsible for the five main conservation programs of Marine Conservation, SIMCA enforcement, Environmental Control, Education & Outreach and Ecotourism. Staff operations are aided by Reef Guardian’s three high-speed patrol boats and a radar tracking system. Nearly 70% of Reef Guardian staff are trained and certified Sabah Honorary Wildlife Wardens that allows the enforcement team to patrol the reserve’s boundaries and have powers of inspection and seizure. They are permitted to arrest offenders with assistance from the local enforcement agencies. In 2017, Reef Guardian established the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area Enforcement Steering Committee that consists of Sabah Wildlife Department, Fishery Department Sabah, Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM), Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency, Police, Army, Marine Police, Navy Malaysia, Reef Defender and Municipal offices in combating illegal fishing within SIMCA. The combination of a collaborative enforcement strategy with the enforcement agencies and local communities, regular patrols and radar surveillance has all but halted illegal and destructive fishing in the reserve.

Nudibranch. Photo © Achier Chung/Reef Guardian

The closest local community Kampung Terusan Sugut is located 35 km from Lankayan Island. In 2012, Reef Guardian conducted a study on the socio-economic benefits of SIMCA to the local communities, followed by educational and outreach programs in 2014 and 2015. In 2017, Reef Guardian initiated the fishery “buy-back” program to the local communities. Additionally, the local communities along the coastal areas benefit from the employment opportunities at the LIDR.

In 2019, Reef Guardian submitted SIMCA for the IUCN Green-List status to gain recognition for well-managed, and well governed marine protected areas. As of May 2022, SIMCA is officially the first IUCN Green List site in Malaysia.

Lessons learned and recommendations

Visitor fees provided sustainable financing for operations and management of the reserve and investment in personnel training and surveillance technology to enforce the rules and regulations of the conservation area. In collaboration with government enforcement agencies, Reef Guardian has reduced threats such as illegal fishing and turtle egg poaching. As a result, there is a comparatively high abundance of commercially important fish, and turtle nesting at Lankayan Island has increased. Private management can be effective in conserving biodiversity in MPAs and may well exceed regionally unsuitable locations.

Funding summary

Reef Guardian operations are partially funded by a conservation fee of RM25 (US $8) per visitor per night levied on the guests of Lankayan Island Dive Resort (As of 2022, the management is working to increase the fee to RM35 per night (US $8.03 in 2022). The conservation fee generates approximately RM250,000 (US $79,400) of revenue each year, which comprises 50% of the total operational costs of the reserve. The remaining costs are met entirely by grants, a resort lease fee (RM50,000 per resort) and the director’s fund. SIMCA’s RM500,000 (US $158,800) total annual operating costs translates to a per-hectare cost of US $3.43/year, which compares favorably with a median of US $7.80 per ha/year in a worldwide survey of the operational costs of 83 marine protected areas. The reserve also received a US $20,000 grant from Conservation International in 2006, US $44,000 from National Fish & Wildlife Foundation in 2008, US $61,000 from Conservation International Philippines in 2009, RM100,000 research fund from WWF-Malaysia, RM60,000 project fund from the Ministry of Science Technology Innovation Malaysia in 2014, RM35,000 project fund from SEE Turtle One Billion baby turtles in 2019, and RM100,000 research fund from WWF-Malaysia in 2022.