Northern Sarawak Association Clears Ghost Nets and Installs Mooring Lines to Actively Promote Marine Conservation and Responsible Diving Culture

(Miri, 3rd) The Northern Sarawak Journalists Association (NSJA) successfully organized a "Ghost Net Cleanup and Mooring Line Installation Action" on the 30th of this month in the waters of Miri-Sibuti Coral Reefs National Park. The aim was to protect the local marine ecosystem and advocate for responsible diving behavior. The event received an enthusiastic response, with 12 participants, including 2 association members and 10 passionate volunteers; 10 of whom were certified divers, while the other 2 served as boatmen, assisting in navigation and surface support tasks.

This action covered four popular diving spots—Anemone Garden, North Siwa, Sunday Reef, and Batu Belais. These areas are renowned for their rich marine biodiversity and stunning coral landscapes, attracting diving enthusiasts from home and abroad. However, they have long faced ecological threats posed by ghost nets.

To enhance diving safety and protect the fragile coral ecosystem, the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) specially provided mooring lines for divers to install at each dive site. These replace traditional iron anchor systems to prevent anchor claws from damaging the seabed corals, while providing a more stable and environmentally friendly berthing option for dive boats, creating a friendly diving environment.

President of the Northern Sarawak Journalists Association, Chai Chon Chin, stated in an interview that the event originally scheduled for November 1, 2023, had to be postponed to April 30 this year due to bad weather. He pointed out that the association has long been concerned about marine conservation issues and has included ghost net cleanup as an annual routine project, continuing to promote the concept of marine environmental protection.

“We hope to raise public awareness of the harm caused by ghost nets through this action. These abandoned or lost fishing nets not only entangle coral reefs but can also accidentally capture marine life, causing serious ecological damage,” he said.

He added that the cleanup work not only saves trapped marine life but also helps restore the natural beauty of dive sites, thereby enhancing the quality of dive tourism and driving a sustainable ocean economy.

“This move reflects the association's commitment to the sustainable development of marine resources and demonstrates the positive influence of journalists in spreading environmental awareness.”