Dates: Sept 1 (theory in Kuala Lumpur); Sept 7-9 (practical sessions in Tioman)
Become a Reef Check EcoDiver! It’s not boring science…It’s fun! Reef Check is a very simple methodology for measuring the health of coral reefs, easily learned by divers of all ages. Its aim is to collect accurate data on the health of reefs worldwide by conducting surveys of the biodiversity of fish, invertebrates and corals on a reef with divers like you!
To know more, visit www.reefcheck.org. Fee: RM680 per member which includes Reef Check Training, EcoDiver certification, 6 dives, all SCUBA equipment rental, training materials, instructor’s time, 2 nights accommodation at Swiss Cottage resort on Tioman Island (based on twin or triple share, longhouse room with fan and hot showers) including breakfast, and donation to the Marine Group fund.
Places are limited and are on a first come first served basis. Booking with payment must be received before 24th August 2007. For more details, contact Saras Kumar at malaysia@reefcheck.org
Note: Reef Check Malaysia is helping the MNS Marine Group train MNS members to form its own reef check team.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Reef Check refresher (theory)
Date: July 21 (Sat)
Time: 2pm
Location: Kuala Lumpur
Calling all MNS members who have previously participated in Reef Check training and survey. If you would like to continue participating in Reef Check surveys, you’ll need to upgrade your skills to become an “EcoDiver.”
MNS Marine Group is offering a half day theory refresher in Kuala Lumpur and two days on an island to complete the certification course. To register, please contact Saras Kumar at malaysia@reefcheck.org.
Time: 2pm
Location: Kuala Lumpur
Calling all MNS members who have previously participated in Reef Check training and survey. If you would like to continue participating in Reef Check surveys, you’ll need to upgrade your skills to become an “EcoDiver.”
MNS Marine Group is offering a half day theory refresher in Kuala Lumpur and two days on an island to complete the certification course. To register, please contact Saras Kumar at malaysia@reefcheck.org.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Saving the world, one seahorse at a time
By Aimi Fahmi
Photos by Lim Eng Hoo
The day started early on June 17th, even before dawn. Our volunteer group consisted of 16 people. While we drove in a convoy from Skudai to the Pendas jetty, it drizzled. The SOS project leader (Mr. Choo Chee Kuang), a postgraduate student collecting samples (Cik Sharifah), a local teacher/volunteer (Encik Bakthiar) and two boatmen joined us at the jetty.
By 7.30am, the group had been divided into two boats and headed out as it continued to rain. Everyone was already soaked as we made our way to the seagrass bed, passing right under the Second Link Bridge. There were few qualms about going through with this, but we still did not head back to shore.
As we got nearer to the seagrass bed, which looked like a very small green island at low tide, our spirits rose. We got into the water and started combing the area for marine life. The group was divided into teams of four to start the search for seahorses. However, before that, Mr. Choo rebriefed the group and started handing out plastic pipes with plastic bags attached to the end.
Every team had their own area to cover. My team started by walking over to the fringe of the seagrass bed and trudged carefully parallel to another team at about the same distance to make sure we had covered as much area as we could before the tide came in – we only had about an hour or so. By then, the rain had reduced to a very light drizzle.
We started scanning for signs of life amongst the masses of seagrasses. In the hour or so we were there, we found a total of five Spotted Seahorses (Hippocampus kuda, see photo), two Alligator Pipefish (Syngnatoides biaculeatus), at least one friend of Spongebob, i.e. Patrick the Starfish and more than a few sea cucumbers. The masters of finding hidden marine life were actually one of the boatmen and Encik Bakhtiar.
One of the seahorses wasa non-pregnant male. Three were tagged for the first time and those that were found with tags were released right away. Both pipefish found have not been tagged before. One was a pregnant male and the other was a juvenile.
As the tide came in, and pretty quickly at that, each of the tagged creatures was released. Then, the group, totally drenched, headed back to the jetty. By then, the clouds withdrew to make way for the sun, and that made the boat ride back starkly different from our first ride. Going along the strait, with Johor to our left and Singapore to our right, one cannot fathom, how with all the growth and development on either side, nature can still hold its fort and survive. Our little way of lending a helping hand is by saving one seahorse at a time.
Two of the participants have posted their photos online:
Lim Eng Hoo:
http://picasaweb.google.com /divemuster/MNSTripSOSVolunteer Program
Hoe Pek Ch'ng:
http://picasaweb.google.com /wkr5212/MNSSOSTrip17Jun07
Photos by Lim Eng Hoo
The day started early on June 17th, even before dawn. Our volunteer group consisted of 16 people. While we drove in a convoy from Skudai to the Pendas jetty, it drizzled. The SOS project leader (Mr. Choo Chee Kuang), a postgraduate student collecting samples (Cik Sharifah), a local teacher/volunteer (Encik Bakthiar) and two boatmen joined us at the jetty.
By 7.30am, the group had been divided into two boats and headed out as it continued to rain. Everyone was already soaked as we made our way to the seagrass bed, passing right under the Second Link Bridge. There were few qualms about going through with this, but we still did not head back to shore.
As we got nearer to the seagrass bed, which looked like a very small green island at low tide, our spirits rose. We got into the water and started combing the area for marine life. The group was divided into teams of four to start the search for seahorses. However, before that, Mr. Choo rebriefed the group and started handing out plastic pipes with plastic bags attached to the end.
Every team had their own area to cover. My team started by walking over to the fringe of the seagrass bed and trudged carefully parallel to another team at about the same distance to make sure we had covered as much area as we could before the tide came in – we only had about an hour or so. By then, the rain had reduced to a very light drizzle.
We started scanning for signs of life amongst the masses of seagrasses. In the hour or so we were there, we found a total of five Spotted Seahorses (Hippocampus kuda, see photo), two Alligator Pipefish (Syngnatoides biaculeatus), at least one friend of Spongebob, i.e. Patrick the Starfish and more than a few sea cucumbers. The masters of finding hidden marine life were actually one of the boatmen and Encik Bakhtiar.One of the seahorses wasa non-pregnant male. Three were tagged for the first time and those that were found with tags were released right away. Both pipefish found have not been tagged before. One was a pregnant male and the other was a juvenile.
As the tide came in, and pretty quickly at that, each of the tagged creatures was released. Then, the group, totally drenched, headed back to the jetty. By then, the clouds withdrew to make way for the sun, and that made the boat ride back starkly different from our first ride. Going along the strait, with Johor to our left and Singapore to our right, one cannot fathom, how with all the growth and development on either side, nature can still hold its fort and survive. Our little way of lending a helping hand is by saving one seahorse at a time.
Two of the participants have posted their photos online:
Lim Eng Hoo:
http://picasaweb.google.com /divemuster/MNSTripSOSVolunteer Program
Hoe Pek Ch'ng:
http://picasaweb.google.com /wkr5212/MNSSOSTrip17Jun07
MIDE 2007
By Khatijah Abdullah
The Malaysian International Dive Expo (MIDE) was held at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) from 6-8 July with the main aim of promoting world-class diving destinations in Malaysia.
This year’s expo was organised on a bigger scale with more exhibitors, talks and activities involving the whole family, including kids. The Marine Group of MNS was also invited to give talks. MNS council member T.C. Lim gave a talk about MNS entitled “What we do and how you can get involved.” The talk turned into an interesting discussion about environmental conservation in Malaysia.
On the final day, underwater photographer K.L. Kwang talked about sharks, their conservation and about Marine Group’s Fins - Best on Sharks campaign. Lee Siew Yeen, a Marine Group member who was also with the Malaysian Sports Diving Association
(MSDA), helped to sell our Fins - Best on Sharks T-shirts to local celebrity Fauziah Latiff, an avid diver who attended the expo. It was an excellent boost to our campaign when she wore the T-shirt for her Finsonline magazine photo shoot.
Overall, the event promoted interest in diving, but more publicity should be given to the seminars, talks and documentary screenings which had a dismal turnout.
The Malaysian International Dive Expo (MIDE) was held at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) from 6-8 July with the main aim of promoting world-class diving destinations in Malaysia.
This year’s expo was organised on a bigger scale with more exhibitors, talks and activities involving the whole family, including kids. The Marine Group of MNS was also invited to give talks. MNS council member T.C. Lim gave a talk about MNS entitled “What we do and how you can get involved.” The talk turned into an interesting discussion about environmental conservation in Malaysia.
On the final day, underwater photographer K.L. Kwang talked about sharks, their conservation and about Marine Group’s Fins - Best on Sharks campaign. Lee Siew Yeen, a Marine Group member who was also with the Malaysian Sports Diving Association
(MSDA), helped to sell our Fins - Best on Sharks T-shirts to local celebrity Fauziah Latiff, an avid diver who attended the expo. It was an excellent boost to our campaign when she wore the T-shirt for her Finsonline magazine photo shoot.
Overall, the event promoted interest in diving, but more publicity should be given to the seminars, talks and documentary screenings which had a dismal turnout.
Why sharks and the soup?
By Kerry Stansfield
The Selangor Marine SIG has chosen to appeal to people to stop eating and ordering shark’s fin soup. But why sharks of all the fish in the ocean? And why ask people to stop consuming the soup?
Sharks are particularly vulnerable to overfishing. Unlike bony fish that produce thousands of eggs, sharks produce far fewer offspring. Their slow reproductive
rates mean they recover from fishing slowly, if at all. The Bigeye Thresher produces two offspring, while the Blue Shark produces an average of 135.
Sharks have long pregnancies, averaging 9-12 months, followed by a resting stage of 1-2 years, before they reproduce again. In addition, young sharks are slow to grow, and reach maturity late. For example, Lemon Sharks take 15 years to mature. Many are killed before reaching maturity. Many sharks are keystone species Remove the top predator from the food web and you risk upsetting the whole ecosystem.
Between 1970 and 2005, Bull, Dusky and Hammerhead sharks declined by more than 99 percent in the northwest Atlantic. With fewer sharks around, the species they prey upon, such as Cownose Rays, increased in numbers. Hordes of Cownose Rays dined on Bay Scallops and wiped the scallops out. These rays may turn next to the seagrass beds that are the nursery of many other species, such as shellfish, snappers and groupers. Not only is this a tragedy for biodiversity, but fisheries as well.
Sharks are also threatened, like many other species, by pollution, habitat degradation (particularly coastal breeding areas) and climate change. Increases in technology over the last few decades have made the capture of sharks much more efficient and has also led to increased accidental capture of sharks by fisheries targeting other species.
Some shark fisheries are illegal, unregulated and unreported, making the ideal of sustainable shark fisheries impossible. Sharks are often finned at sea, resulting in greater numbers of sharks being killed, as their fins do not take up much room in the hold. The landing of fins at the docks rather than the whole shark makes identification of the species virtually impossible, so recording and regulation of catch of each species is not possible.
Now, why ask people to stop eating shark’s fin soup? Well, the increased demand for shark’s fin has fuelled the increase in shark capture. Plus, the consumer currently has no way of knowing if the fins they are buying came from a sustainable fishing industry due to all the difficulties in regulating the fishing effort mentioned above. Therefore, reducing the demand is the simplest option at this time.
MYTH: Sharks are ferocious beasts that can take care of themselves.
TRUTH: Their slow growth, late maturation, lengthy pregnancies and small litters make sharks among the most biologically vulnerable animals in the oceans.
The Selangor Marine SIG has chosen to appeal to people to stop eating and ordering shark’s fin soup. But why sharks of all the fish in the ocean? And why ask people to stop consuming the soup?
Sharks are particularly vulnerable to overfishing. Unlike bony fish that produce thousands of eggs, sharks produce far fewer offspring. Their slow reproductive
rates mean they recover from fishing slowly, if at all. The Bigeye Thresher produces two offspring, while the Blue Shark produces an average of 135.
Sharks have long pregnancies, averaging 9-12 months, followed by a resting stage of 1-2 years, before they reproduce again. In addition, young sharks are slow to grow, and reach maturity late. For example, Lemon Sharks take 15 years to mature. Many are killed before reaching maturity. Many sharks are keystone species Remove the top predator from the food web and you risk upsetting the whole ecosystem.
Between 1970 and 2005, Bull, Dusky and Hammerhead sharks declined by more than 99 percent in the northwest Atlantic. With fewer sharks around, the species they prey upon, such as Cownose Rays, increased in numbers. Hordes of Cownose Rays dined on Bay Scallops and wiped the scallops out. These rays may turn next to the seagrass beds that are the nursery of many other species, such as shellfish, snappers and groupers. Not only is this a tragedy for biodiversity, but fisheries as well.
Sharks are also threatened, like many other species, by pollution, habitat degradation (particularly coastal breeding areas) and climate change. Increases in technology over the last few decades have made the capture of sharks much more efficient and has also led to increased accidental capture of sharks by fisheries targeting other species.
Some shark fisheries are illegal, unregulated and unreported, making the ideal of sustainable shark fisheries impossible. Sharks are often finned at sea, resulting in greater numbers of sharks being killed, as their fins do not take up much room in the hold. The landing of fins at the docks rather than the whole shark makes identification of the species virtually impossible, so recording and regulation of catch of each species is not possible.
Now, why ask people to stop eating shark’s fin soup? Well, the increased demand for shark’s fin has fuelled the increase in shark capture. Plus, the consumer currently has no way of knowing if the fins they are buying came from a sustainable fishing industry due to all the difficulties in regulating the fishing effort mentioned above. Therefore, reducing the demand is the simplest option at this time.
MYTH: Sharks are ferocious beasts that can take care of themselves.
TRUTH: Their slow growth, late maturation, lengthy pregnancies and small litters make sharks among the most biologically vulnerable animals in the oceans.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Marine-friendly snorkeling at Lang Tengah
Dates: Sept 6-9 (Thurs-Sun)
Location: Lang Tengah, Terengganu
Calling all people who love swimming in the sea! Take it a step further by picking up some snorkelling skills from the educational & marine-friendly 4D/3N snorkelling trip organised by the Marine Group of Selangor Branch.
Activities are tailored to first-timers and will include snorkeling trips, talks & discussions, a night walk and an exciting underwater treasure hunt. Non-beginners are also welcome. Children (6-12 years) must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
There will be a trip briefing on 15 August 2007 at MNS HQ. All interested individuals are invited to attend.
For more information on this trip, e-mail langtengah2007@gmail.com. You may also call Khatijah (013-770-8204) or Adeline (016-650-0588).
Member price: RM500 per adult, RM280 per child (6-12 yrs)
Non-member price: RM570 per adult, RM350 per child (6-12 yrs)
Limited to 30 pax - reservation is on first come first served basis.
Booking confirmation is upon full payment. Payment is due by 17 August 2007.
Location: Lang Tengah, Terengganu
Calling all people who love swimming in the sea! Take it a step further by picking up some snorkelling skills from the educational & marine-friendly 4D/3N snorkelling trip organised by the Marine Group of Selangor Branch.
Activities are tailored to first-timers and will include snorkeling trips, talks & discussions, a night walk and an exciting underwater treasure hunt. Non-beginners are also welcome. Children (6-12 years) must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
There will be a trip briefing on 15 August 2007 at MNS HQ. All interested individuals are invited to attend.
For more information on this trip, e-mail langtengah2007@gmail.com. You may also call Khatijah (013-770-8204) or Adeline (016-650-0588).
Member price: RM500 per adult, RM280 per child (6-12 yrs)
Non-member price: RM570 per adult, RM350 per child (6-12 yrs)
Limited to 30 pax - reservation is on first come first served basis.
Booking confirmation is upon full payment. Payment is due by 17 August 2007.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
MNS Marine SIG at MIDE 2007
Date: July 6 (Friday) from 12:15pm - 1:15pm
Speaker: Wong Leong Sze - "Reef Appreciation"
Date: July 7 (Sat) from 3:45pm - 4:45pm
Speaker: TC Lim - "What we do and how you can get involved"
Date: July 8 (Sun) from 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Speaker: KL Kwang - Fins "Best on Sharks: MNS Marine Group campaign"
Venue: Seminar Room at Level 4, Putra World Trade Centre
The Marine SIG has been invited to speak at this year’s MIDE (Malaysian International Dive Expo). Our volunteers will be giving talks on the marine ecosystem, sharks & our Fins-Best on Sharks campaign, and the work of MNS Marine SIG & how you can get involved. Do join us and check out what the exhibition has to offer. For more information check, the MIDE website at: www.mide.com.my. Entrance is free.
Speaker: Wong Leong Sze - "Reef Appreciation"
Date: July 7 (Sat) from 3:45pm - 4:45pm
Speaker: TC Lim - "What we do and how you can get involved"
Date: July 8 (Sun) from 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Speaker: KL Kwang - Fins "Best on Sharks: MNS Marine Group campaign"
Venue: Seminar Room at Level 4, Putra World Trade Centre
The Marine SIG has been invited to speak at this year’s MIDE (Malaysian International Dive Expo). Our volunteers will be giving talks on the marine ecosystem, sharks & our Fins-Best on Sharks campaign, and the work of MNS Marine SIG & how you can get involved. Do join us and check out what the exhibition has to offer. For more information check, the MIDE website at: www.mide.com.my. Entrance is free.
MNS Marine Committee 2008/2009
Coordinator: Khor Hui Min
Secretary: Lisa Lee
Treasurer: Chan Beng Beng
Merchandise: Choo Li Ann
Webmaster: H.Y. Leong
Divemaster: Lim Eng Hoo
Shark campaign: Kerry Stansfield
Committee members/ Special Projects: Serina Rahman, Khatijah Abdullah, Hew Er-Win
Secretary: Lisa Lee
Treasurer: Chan Beng Beng
Merchandise: Choo Li Ann
Webmaster: H.Y. Leong
Divemaster: Lim Eng Hoo
Shark campaign: Kerry Stansfield
Committee members/ Special Projects: Serina Rahman, Khatijah Abdullah, Hew Er-Win
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Sharks & CITES
By Kerry Stansfield
Many of us refer to CITES as the benchmark against which we measure the importance of an animal or plant. We use their regulations to assess what is endangered and what is not because it is there that they regulate trade, whether global or domestic.
Many conservationists however, recognise the difficulty faced in getting an animal or plant certified by CITES due to the many economic and political ties that the Convention is connected to.
This month we’d like to bring your attention to an article released after the recent CITES meeting. The full article can be found under the title: ‘Sharks defeated at UN Wildlife Trade Talks’. It is written by Anne Mudeva (released through Reuters):
A United Nations forum on endangered species rejected bids on Friday to put in place controls on the multi-million dollar trade in two types of sharks, highly prized for their meat and fins. The spiny dogfish, also known as rock salmon, and the porbeagle shark failed to get protection from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Conservationists slammed the decision, saying today's rejection highlighted the strength of commercial interests over wildlife protection. "The failure to list spiny dogfish and porbeagle (on CITES) is a shameful triumph of politics over conservation," said Cliona O'Brien of environmental group WWF. "We needed action, not procrastination."
"This is a profound disappointment," said Carroll Muffett, deputy campaign director at Greenpeace. "Today is the Ocean Day and the CITES parties decided to celebrate it by rejecting protection for two sharks."
Germany, acting on behalf of the European Union, had asked the 171-nation CITES pact to list the spiny dogfish and the porbeagle shark on Appendix II which regulates trades in threatened animals and plants.
The EU and the United States argued the two shark species had seen a substantial population decline in parts of the world and that regional fishery bodies had failed to manage stocks properly. The shark proposals received over half of the votes at the June 3-15 CITES meeting in The Hague but fell short of winning the two-thirds majority needed for a listing.
Fishing nations such as Japan, Norway, Korea, China and some South American countries opposed CITES protection for the sharks, saying the convention was not the right place to manage commercial fisheries. They were backed by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which recognized a significant population decline in some regions but said globally the sharks did not meet the biological decline criteria for listing on Appendix II.
Unsustainable fishing has led to a 95 percent decline in the spiny dogfish population in the North Atlantic in the last 10 years, WWF said. The porbeagle population plunged by 89 percent in that region in the last 40 years. It is estimated that nearly half of marine fish stocks are fully exploited and 18 percent are overexploited, CITES says, as global fish exports reached a record of $71.5 billion in 2004.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is the world's most authoritative guide to the status of biological diversity. Perhaps we should refer to this extensive database and scientific research to determine which of Earth’s animals need protection.
Many of us refer to CITES as the benchmark against which we measure the importance of an animal or plant. We use their regulations to assess what is endangered and what is not because it is there that they regulate trade, whether global or domestic.
Many conservationists however, recognise the difficulty faced in getting an animal or plant certified by CITES due to the many economic and political ties that the Convention is connected to.
This month we’d like to bring your attention to an article released after the recent CITES meeting. The full article can be found under the title: ‘Sharks defeated at UN Wildlife Trade Talks’. It is written by Anne Mudeva (released through Reuters):
A United Nations forum on endangered species rejected bids on Friday to put in place controls on the multi-million dollar trade in two types of sharks, highly prized for their meat and fins. The spiny dogfish, also known as rock salmon, and the porbeagle shark failed to get protection from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Conservationists slammed the decision, saying today's rejection highlighted the strength of commercial interests over wildlife protection. "The failure to list spiny dogfish and porbeagle (on CITES) is a shameful triumph of politics over conservation," said Cliona O'Brien of environmental group WWF. "We needed action, not procrastination."
"This is a profound disappointment," said Carroll Muffett, deputy campaign director at Greenpeace. "Today is the Ocean Day and the CITES parties decided to celebrate it by rejecting protection for two sharks."
Germany, acting on behalf of the European Union, had asked the 171-nation CITES pact to list the spiny dogfish and the porbeagle shark on Appendix II which regulates trades in threatened animals and plants.
The EU and the United States argued the two shark species had seen a substantial population decline in parts of the world and that regional fishery bodies had failed to manage stocks properly. The shark proposals received over half of the votes at the June 3-15 CITES meeting in The Hague but fell short of winning the two-thirds majority needed for a listing.
Fishing nations such as Japan, Norway, Korea, China and some South American countries opposed CITES protection for the sharks, saying the convention was not the right place to manage commercial fisheries. They were backed by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which recognized a significant population decline in some regions but said globally the sharks did not meet the biological decline criteria for listing on Appendix II.
Unsustainable fishing has led to a 95 percent decline in the spiny dogfish population in the North Atlantic in the last 10 years, WWF said. The porbeagle population plunged by 89 percent in that region in the last 40 years. It is estimated that nearly half of marine fish stocks are fully exploited and 18 percent are overexploited, CITES says, as global fish exports reached a record of $71.5 billion in 2004.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is the world's most authoritative guide to the status of biological diversity. Perhaps we should refer to this extensive database and scientific research to determine which of Earth’s animals need protection.
From Pole to Pole: Artic and Antarctic Exploration
Date: July 16 (Mon) at 8pm
Venue: MNS HQ Auditorium
Speaker: Dato’ Seri Dr Salleh Mohd Nor
The speaker was the first former Director General of Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) and has more than 30 years experience in forestry, research and development.
He was also the first President of the Malaysian Nature Society and is currently the Vice-President of Akademi Sains Malaysia. In 2005, he was one of the scientists who went to Antartica to observe the work carried out by our very own researchers. Join us as Dato’ Seri Dr Salleh shares his experiences, views and thoughts on the Artic and Antartic ecosystems.
Entrance is free but donations are always welcomed!
Venue: MNS HQ Auditorium
Speaker: Dato’ Seri Dr Salleh Mohd Nor
The speaker was the first former Director General of Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) and has more than 30 years experience in forestry, research and development.
He was also the first President of the Malaysian Nature Society and is currently the Vice-President of Akademi Sains Malaysia. In 2005, he was one of the scientists who went to Antartica to observe the work carried out by our very own researchers. Join us as Dato’ Seri Dr Salleh shares his experiences, views and thoughts on the Artic and Antartic ecosystems.
Entrance is free but donations are always welcomed!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
