Abstract
The Perhentian Islands located in the East coast of Peninsular Malaysia. They are well-known for their rich coral reef ecosystems. Marine resources of Malaysia have been overexploited in general due to overfishing and other development activities. Such no-take marine protected areas (MPAs) were established in Malaysia including Perhentian Islands Marine Park to enable overexploited marine resources to recover and to conserve coral reef ecosystems. This paper examines the current level of activities causing damages to the coral reef habitats in the Perhentian MPA. This study used paired comparison method to elicit the perception of the local stakeholders on the activities harmful to the marine habitats. The results of the analysis showed that various respondent groups had similar preference rankings on the harmful activities: littering, discarding fishing equipments, excess fishing and too many divers that cause damage to the habitats in the MPA area. The findings suggest that policy makers should take cognizance of the local stakeholders’ concern in planning and designing of marine protected areas in Malaysia.
Highlights
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been suggested as an important tool for fishery management in a situation where fisheries are overexploited and to facilitate sustainable fishing [1]
The coral reefs in Peninsular Malaysia are mostly protected as marine parks
A study conducted by Harborne et al [9] recorded 221 hard coral species and 298 fish species around the marine park island along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia
Summary
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been suggested as an important tool for fishery management in a situation where fisheries are overexploited and to facilitate sustainable fishing [1]. The primary objectives of MPAs are to protect coral reef areas from fishing and other activities that may damage the ecosystem. A study conducted by Harborne et al [9] recorded 221 hard coral species and 298 fish species around the marine park island along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Tamblyn et al [12] conducted a biological assessment of reefs and islands of Malaysia and recorded 127 types of fish species available in the marine waters surrounding the Pulau Perhentian. Marine protected area in Pulau Perhentian was first initiated by the Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DoFM) in 1983 This island has been gazetted as a Marine Park in 1994 and established no-take MPA where fishing was prohibited within two nautical miles from the lowest water level in the shore. Fishers from other neighboring areas are engaged in fishing close to the MPA area
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