In collaboration with the Kapas Conservation Society
In September 2020, the OCEAN HOPE project teamed up with the Kapas Conservation Society (KCS), to hold a 3-day training workshop on coral reef monitoring surveys at the Kapas Beach Chalet on Kapas Island. The workshop, which took place from 23rd to 25th September, was attended by nearly 20 members of the KCS, most of whom were operators and staff of the local resorts and boat services. The OCEAN HOPE team also had the privilege to welcome several young participants, who may someday form the next generation of responsible tourism operators in the region. The workshop was facilitated by a team of experts in coral and fish surveys from UMT’s Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences (FSSM) and was aimed to enable KSC members to monitor and evaluate the condition of the reefs and marine life surrounding Kapas Island. This included ways to record and report observations made during dives or snorkelling trips around the island. The course was based on a series of recently published guidelines by the Malaysian Department of Fisheries which focused on the monitoring of dive sites (R.O.L.L. – Rapid Look Observe), iconic marine species (R.E.D. – Rare Endangered Deliver), and coral reef restorations (C.A.L.M. – Compose All Linear Measure). The excitement was especially high when theory could finally be put to practice during a short ‘field trip’ to one of the local snorkelling sites. Even a sea of jellyfish did not faze the participants who went on to join their facilitators to lay an underwater transect line and try their hand at surveying corals and fish along the way. It is hoped that, in the long-term, Kapas Island tourism operators will be able to monitor the conditions of their coral reefs so that any deteriorations can be picked up and reported in due time. Afterall, nobody has a better chance and reason to keep an eye on the island’s natural treasures than those whom call the island their home and source of livelihood.
