Survey. Map. Restore.
CORAL REEF PRESERVATION & MONITORING.
In addition to Tengah Island Hatchery, TIC runs a wider marine conservation programme which includes coral reef mapping on Pulau Tengah and other Johor Islands, coral reef surveys and monitoring, reef restoration and other habitat studies with published scientific reports distributed quarterly. This work is carried out in Strategic Partnership with the Department of Fisheries, Malaysia.
Monitoring
Coral reefs are one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. They are home to millions of species of plants and fish that people depend on for food, medicines and tourism. They also serve as barriers in many areas to protect lives and properties from storms, waves, and the forces of erosion. Coral reef monitoring and assessment are important tools for effective management and can provide information to detect changes in reef conditions.
Mapping
TIC is in the process of GPS mapping the coral reefs around the Pulau Tengah to determine their exact sizes and locations. This will help to determine reef growth and health over time, as well as allow appropriate planning for coral replanting and placement of mooring lines and buoy lines.
Surveys
Annual Reef Check surveys are conducted and bolstered this with our own in-house monitoring to study the coral and marine life in more detail over time. We also conduct Rapid Ecological Assessment Methods (REA), — comprehensive, small scale, site-specific surveys — to monitor temporal and spatial variations in marine habitats and populations. This non-invasive technique allows the collection of community level data by monitoring the abundance of coral reef organisms. These activities allow us to evaluate the coverage and health of the coral reefs surrounding Pulau Tengah.
Nursery and Restoration—in-situ & ex-situ
TIC has deployed several coral nurseries around Pulau Tengah using the latest research to determine the most successful techniques for our region. So far, the nurseries have been highly successful with up to 5cm growth per month.
TIC Marine Scientist measured the growth of the coral nursery at one of the sites.
As part of our habitat restoration project we have 2 techniques for attaching coral; coral biscuits and cable ties. Each month we measure the height and the width of each coral fragment. This is to identify if the method we use for attaching has an impact on the growth rate, and to gauge when they are ready to be transplanted back on to the reef. Our Acropora corals will grow between 3 and 5 cm each month.