Protect Coral Reefs in Malaysia

Ghost nets are fishing nets that are discarded or abandoned by fishermen when they become torn or entangled in reefs. While these nets may seem harmless once left behind, they pose a serious and persistent threat to marine life and ecosystems. Ghost nets continue to "fish" for marine animals, leading to entanglement and often death. Turtles, dolphins, sharks, and fish have all been found trapped in these nets. For instance, turtles entangled in ghost nets are unable to surface for air, leading to drowning, while other animals may die from starvation or exhaustion trying to free themselves. 

Coral reefs, too, suffer significant damage as larger, heavier nets can smother or break them apart. The removal of ghost nets is critical for protecting marine ecosystems, but it must be done carefully to avoid harming delicate coral structures. Heavier nets often require larger teams, significant manpower, and hours of effort to safely retrieve them.

Once retrieved, ghost nets are brought ashore for safe and responsible disposal with the assistance of local authorities.

Reef Check Malaysia's Local Marine Conservation Groups (LMCG) deal with the removal of ghost nets when they receive reports from the local islanders. Recently, our team in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah partnered the Marine Research Foundation, Sabah Parks, Sabah Dive Rangers and Scuba Junkie SEAS to organise a ghost net removal program in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. 

The 3-day program involved recce dives on the first day to verify the location and depth of the ghost nets that were reported, and to mark these sites with buoys. Over the next two days, a team of 25 divers worked hard to remove 141.7kg of ghost nets. These nets were entangled over a vast reef area and our team was able to remove it without damaging the reefs. 

Your continued support has made these crucial conservation efforts possible. Thank you for helping us move closer to our goal of conserving Malaysia’s marine ecosystems.