Marine Research Station

Pulau Perhentian Marine Park

Contents

● Introduction– Background– Aims and Objectives

● Methodologies– Reef Health– Tourist Perception

● Data and Analysis ● Key Points and Recommendations

Introduction

● Blue Temple Conservation– UK Non-profit, Research focused

● Ecoteer– Conservation through Education

● Research Team– Who we are

● Why is it important?– Reef Health, Tourism, Economy

Aims and Objectives

● Reef Health– Fish, Invertebrate and Coral

● Tourist Perception– Expenditure, Motivations and Environmental

● Recommendations– Reducing the damage

● Moving Forwards– Research, Procedures and Monitoring

Methodologies; Reef Health

● Reef Health – adapted Reef Check methods– Six 30m transects covering a 30m² area/survey site– Nine fish species identified

● Grouper, Snapper, Baramundi Cod, Sweetlips, Butterflyfish, Moray Eel, Parrotfish, Bumphead Parrotfish, Humphead Wrasse

– Nine Invertebrate species identified● Diadema, Collector, Pencil Urchins, Sea Cucumber, Triton Shell, Crown of

Thorns, Giant Clam, Lobster, Banded Coral Shrimp

– Ten Substrate types identified● Hard Coral (HC), Soft Coral (SC), Recently Killed Coral (RKC), Rock (RC),

Rubble (RB), Sand (SD), Silt (SI), Sponge (SP), Nutrient Indicator Algae (NIA) and Other (OT)

Survey Site Location

1.D'Lagoon

2.Teluk Pauh

3.Shark Point

4.Fish Garden

5.Tanjung Basi

6.Batu Nisan

7.Batu Tabir

Survey Method

● Fish survey– Conducted first, stop every 5m for 1 minute

● Invertebrate Survey● Substrate Survey

– Record every 50cm

Water Quality - Nutrients● Algae, Diadema and

previous studies

– Indicators of high nutrients in the water

– Some areas worse affected

● Isolated positioning of islands suggests run-off from island resorts and village

● Further research required to identify level of nutrients

Methodologies; Tourists

● Questionnaire– Motivations – Expenditure– Environmental Perceptions

● Resorts and Beaches● Tourists approached

Data and Analysis

● Fish Populations– Snapper (134/30m²),Butterflyfish (71/30m²), Parrotfish (43/30m²),

Grouper (13/30m²)

GrouperButterflyfish

ParrotfishSnapper

Baramundi CodHumphead Wrasse

Bumphead ParrotfishMoray Eel

Sweetlip

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Invertebrate Populations

● Diadema Urchins found in very high numbers● Sea Cucumber and Giant Clams both present● Collector, Pencil, Triton, Coral Shrimp and Lobster –

no sightings

DiademaSea Cucumber

Crown of ThornsGiant Clam

Collector UrchinTriton Shell

Banded Coral ShrimpLobster

Pencil Urchin

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

Invertebrate Populations

● Teluk Pauh most densely populated Diadema (719)

● D'Lagoon highest Giant Clam population (234)

● No correlation between Diadema and substrate %

● Suggestions of high algal productivity

● No correlation between Sea Cucumber and Sand %

D'Lagoon

Teluk Pauh

Shark Point

Fish Garden

Tanjung Basi

Batu Nisan

Batu Tabir

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800

Diadema

Cucumber

Clam

Substrate Cover● Hard Coral Reef Check

guidelines

– 25% = Poor– 25-50% = Fair– 50-75% = Good– 75-100% = Excellent

● 1/7 sites “Good”● 4/7 sites “Fair”● 2/7 sites “Poor”

D'Lagoon

Teluk Pauh

Shark Point

Fish Gardens

Tanjung Basi

Batu Nisan

Batu Tabir

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

HC

SC

NIA

Substrate Cover

Substrate Type Average % Cover

Hard Coral 34.28

Soft Coral 9.13

Recently Killed Coral

1.87

Nutrient Indicator Algae

14.39

Rock 23.57

Rubble 8.47

Sand 6.70

Silt 0.00

Sponge 1.35

Other 0.67

● HC down more than 10% on 2013 Reef Check data

● NIA up on previous 5 year Reef Check data (5-10%)

● Rock cover potential down to coral damage from monsoon and tourism

Tourist Motivations and Perceptions

● 274 tourists surveyed● 50.7% female● 41% stay for one week● 40% motivated by marine life● MYR 1,560.22 average expenditure● 79% went snorkelling● 66% wanted to see Turtles● 49% consider litter to be biggest environmental threat

Tourism Value Estimates● High quality marine life generated MYR 171,624 ● High quality beaches generated MYR 123,257● MYR 15,260 generated by snorkel tours● Turtles generated MYR 283,960.04 for the island

economyTurt les: MYR 244.4 mill ion annually

Marine Life: MYR 147.7 mill ion annually

Beaches: MYR 106.1 mill ion annually

Snorkel tours: MYR 13.1 mill ion annually

Tourism Threat Perceptions

Snorkelling SCUBA Diving Boat Traffic Litter Pollution Tourism0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Percent

● Multiple answers were accepted● Snorkel and Diving neither considered significant issue ● Litter and Boat traffic biggest concern for tourists

– Potentially due to high visibility and aesthetic degradation

Key Points● High Diadema Urchin numbers● High NIA coverage● Reduced Hard Coral coverage

● Higher than normal nutrient levels ● Reduced HC recovery after monsoon impact● Potential damage from tourist activity● Soft Coral potential increase

What does it mean?

Fish Populations● High Butterflyfish

population suggest low aquarium trade

● Low Grouper population suggests potential fishing still occurring with islands or still in recovery from pre-marine park

● Parrotfish numbers reaffirm algal growth

● Low Baramundi Cod and Sweetlips potentially due to slow or lack of recovery from fishing practices

● Whilst low Bumphead recordings, numerous sightings throughout season have been noted

Tourism Key Points

● Turtles and Sharks major attractions

● Marine life key motivator● Snorkelling main activity

undertaken● Economic reliance

identified

Recommendations● Improved signposting

– Behaviour and conservation

● Educated boatmen

– Reliance on turtles and sharks, behaviour

● Resort inclusion

– Include in conservation● Ocean Ambassadors and

eco-tourism

● Increased policing and legislation

– Greater presence and interaction

● More noticeable presence in village and tourist resorts from Eco-agents (Marine Parks and NGOs)

– Presentations, events, raising issues and ideas

Recommendations cont.● Further studies

– Direct Impacts on corals (snorkeller, Diver, water quality, boats)

– Continued monitoring– Enhanced coral survey– Shark and Turtle

populations– Enhanced Tourist

motivations

● Improved waste management

– Sewage treatment– Rubbish collection– Recycling potential

● Creation of village based artificial reef

– Educate locals– Local involvement– New snorkel site

Any Questions?

Thanks for l istening