INTRODUCTION
Sarawak is the first place in Asia to use environmentally friendly - "Reef Balls"
to conserve its marine life - marine turtles in particular. The Sarawak Reef Balls
Project was initiated because of a directive from YB Datuk Amar James Wong Kim
Min, Sarawaks Minister of Environment and Public Health to `seed' the area around
Talang-Satang Islands with reef balls because he wanted to promote sea turtle
conservation.
WHAT ARE REEF BALLS?
Reef balls are a new technology that is now being used worldwide to build
environmentally friendly artificial reefs.
CHARACTERISTICS OF REEF BALLS
- Reef balls are constructed using cement of the same pH as salt water with
use of special admixtures and micro silica. This ensures that the reef balls
mimic natural reef limestone and remain stable.
- They contain no toxins (e.g, heavy metals, petroleum, PCBs) that leach into
sea water, neither do they contain any biologically active compounds (e.g., iron,
copper, fertilizers, vitamins).
- They remain stable on the sea bottom, even during
cyclones.
- They are predicted to last at least 500 years.
- They have a variety of surface textures to enhance the
settlement of marine life.
- They have holes that not only go into the reef ball but
between it walls. A large open area in the centre is designed to provide shelter
for fish, and the holes create vortices which feed the invertebrates and corals.
- They have sharp textured surfaces, which are capable of ripping trawler nets.
When the reef balls are placed in small clusters, they provide a physical barrier
on which trawler nets will become entangled.
WHY BUILD REEF BALLS?
Human activities and natural disasters have led to reductions in our natural
reef systems and marine resources. The growth in sport fishing, SCUBA diving,
and boating has increased the pressures on these systems. Commercially, our
seafood industry depends on development of the ocean to allow larger, yet
sustainable, harvest. The loss of our natural systems, coupled with increased
use, COMPELS US TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SAVE NATURAL REEFS AND MARINE
RESOURCES. Natural reefs cannot rebuild themselves fast enough to meet human d
emands. Long-lasting artificial reefs (reef balls) are useful tools for restoring
our reef systems to a natural and productive state.
POSSIBLE USES OF REEF BALLS
Reel balls can be used for any or all of the following purposes:
- Illegal trawler prevention (damaging trawler nets to
conserve the marine turtles)
- Sea wall construction
- Regeneration of damaged reef areas
- Creating secure anchorages for moorings and maker buoys
- Creating recreational SCUBA diving sites
- Creating lobster nurseries
- Providing habitats for fish and other marine life
- Tourism
- Research
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PROJECT PROGRESS
December 1997.
Sarawak's Ministry of Environment and Public Health provided a warrant to
commence the project. Purchase of six molds from Reef Ball Development Group
Ltd., USA.
April 1998: The "Sarawak Reef Balls Working Group" was formed.
June 1998: Training session with Reef Balls Development Group Ltd. trainers
Contractor commenced manufacturing reef balls.
Official opening of Phase 1 of Project 1 by YB Datuk Amar James Wong Kim Min,
Minister of Environment and Public Health.
September 1998:
Official launching of Phase 2 of Project 1 by YB Dato Dr James Jemut Masing,
Minister of Tourism:- 240 reef balls were deployed.
May 1999: Testing the effectiveness of reef balls in damaging trawler nets
July 1999: Official launching of Phase 3 of Project I by YB Datuk Haji Adenan
Haji Satem, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries: - 260 reef balls were
deployed.
CHARACTERISTIC & MANUFACTURING
COST OF REEF BALLS
|
| Module type |
Width |
Height |
Cost |
| Reef ball |
1.83m |
1.22m |
RM450.00 |
REEF BALLS MONITORING
The Sarawak Reef Balls Working Group found that:
- The development of coral colonies (soft corals, hard corals
and sponges) on reef balls is very encouraging
- Other marine life (fishes, barnacles, , sea urchins, nudibranchs, lobsters)
also can be found around reef balls areas.
THE SARAWAK REEF BALLS WORKING GROUP
On 8th April 1998, the Sarawak Reef Balls Working Group
was form, consisting of the following government agencies:
- Sarawak Forestry Department
- Marine Fisheries Department, Sarawak
- Marine Department, Sarawak
- Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Sarawak
- Ministry of Environment and Public Health
- Sarawak Museum
- Ministry of Tourism
- Ministry of Social Development
- Marine Police Contingent, Sarawak
- Sarawak Turtles' Board
- Sarawak Tourism Board
- Natural Resources and Environment Board
The purpose of this group is to oversee all reef ball projects
in Sarawak, to ensure a coordinated sound approach to
marine conservation, to coordinate the use of reef balls in the
State, and to monitor the progress of coral colonies and other
marine life growth on the reef balls.
AIMS OF THE SARAWAK REEF BALLS PROJECT
- To deter illegal trawling
- To providing secure, environmentally-friendly achorages
for buoys
- To provide eco-tourism dives sites
- To create new colonies of coral growth
- To enrich the marine resources
FUTURE PROJECT
There is a plan to `seed' 100,000 reef balls through Sarawak's sea. Public and
companies who are aware and care about marine life conservation and the
environment are invited to come forward to sponsor the manufacturing of reef
balls.
You can help to save Sarawak's turtles and other marine life by sponsoring the
manufacture of reef balls. For further information, please contact:
Mr Oswald Braken Tisen
Tel: 082-319127
Fax:082-441702/082-441377
E-mail: oswald@pd.jaring.my
or
Mr James Bali
Tel: 082-319121
Fax:082-441702/082-441377
E-mail: jamesab@pd.jaring.my
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