1) $ Seagrass transplantation project in Sepanggar Bay 1 r .)..0 .. B f' ;2. "'\. I O• I Jl- 3 (

, By Fiqah Roslan ~

r KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Ports · Sdn Bhd once again engaged · the Borneo Marine Research ~ r Institute (BMRI) of Universiti· I , Malaysia Sabah (VMS) in marine ] - conservation by collaborating I : on a s~agrass trans-plantation 1 J project.

J A sum ofRM20,OOO was provided .~ by Sabah Ports for the initiative, · which includes the setting up ! of a seagrass transplanting Ng and Rossita after the cheque presentation for the seagrass transplantation project, a corporate social responsibility initiative between I simulation at the BMRI Aquarium Sabah Ports and the Borneo Marine Research Institute of UMS. ~ and Museum located within the ~ university compound. his welcome remarks which established for short"and-Iong­ "The biologically rich precinct ~, UMS Deputy Vice Chancellor were delivered by BMRI director term benefits," he added. is expected to be impacted by · (research and innovation) Professor Dr Rossita Shapawi. Shahril said the partnership development and degrade unless Professor Dr Shah,ril Yusof, at He ' further said seagrass between Sabah Ports and sustainable and protective steps I <, the mock cheque presentation meadows decline at a rate of seven UMS was to initiate seagrass are taken. J · ceremony yesterday, said per cent globally each year while transplantation by using "Our main objective is .to ; the ' project would involve approximately two football field seagrass sprig or bare shoot, safeguard Sepanggar Bay's J. transplanting sea grass population sizes of seagrass disappears in plug and seedling. biological inheritance as well as c · found within the Sepanggar Bay every 30 minutes. The main ,challenges comply with any environmental r vicinity to a newJocation. "Negative impacts of climate expected will be to understand' prerequisites with regard to ' ~ "The aim of the project is change such as increased water the complexity' of ecosystem Sabah Ports' future plan to t C to safeguard Sepanggar Bay's temperature, ocean acidification interaction between biotic develop the Sepanggar area," y­ ~ seagrass inheritance from further and increasing frequency of and abiotic factors, as well 'she said. 11 " degradation and impact by future storms reduce seagrass cover as different transplanting Moving forward, the scope c, 1 development that is expected to around the globe. techniques. of work for BMRI will include b _ take place within,the Sepanggar "Unsustainabie coastal Suria Capital Holdings Berhad , a workshop on proper transfer b< vicinity. 'development, change ofland use, grolJP managing director cum techniques, actual transplantation W "The restoration is expected destructive fishing methods Sabah Ports managing director works and a year-long monitoring d( : to increase seagrass coverage in and anchor damage by boats Ng Kiat Min reiterated that the of the relocated seagrass. · the Kota Kinabalu coastal area , accelerating are among what project entails transplanting The transplaptation work is .. ( as well a's lend support to marine activates degradation of seagrass population found ' expected to involve members of I 'life habitat. - seagrass meadows as well. within the development the BMRI faculty and students, / ~ ,"This contribution will help "Only by increasing boundary to a new location, as Sabah Ports employees as/ ~ us_improve seagrass research awareness can better seagras~ an effort to conserve the site's well as members· from the p~ · and conservatlbn~" -he-s-atd-jn- - management and policies be environmental contribution. community. \ ~ " · , ')011 l"1'a.,,,,,,It:' :,...... , , . ....