Adopting Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) using coral health assessment as indicator: A case study in Pulau Redang Marine Park, Malaysia

Abstract

Pulau Redang is a marine park island that serves as one of Malaysian tourism hot spots harbouring clear underwater scenery of coral reef ecosystem. Apart from providing ecological services to marine organisms, this ecosystem appeal has contributed significantly to tourism development in Pulau Redang. Nonetheless, despite being gazetted as a marine protected area (MPA), the coral reef ecosystem surrounding the island is being threatened by natural and anthropogenic disturbances leading to coral degradation most predominantly in areas close to tourism development. Hence, this paper aims to identify the status of coral health in Pulau Redang as an indicator in supporting management decision to adopt Marine Spatial Planning as a tool for the conservation of reefs in the island. The coral reef datasets were obtained from published articles and a report as well as in-situ data collection through Coral Video Transect at two different areas classified as “near to tourism development” and “far from human activities”. Overall, based on published data and the present coral reef survey from 33 surveyed sites indicated that majority of the reefs can be classified as in ‘fair’ condition. However, reefs located in areas where there are intense human disturbances are found to be in ‘poor’ condition. It can be deduced that natural disturbances, such as the tropical storm in 2019, and anthropogenic activities from nearby tourism area are potentially threatening the coral reef. Therefore, an ecosystem-based and integrated management approach of Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is recommended in order to conserve the environment, promote ecosystem recovery while maintaining the socio-economic development on the island.