KOTA KINABALU: Giant clams are making their way back into waters off the city after decades of uncontrolled exploitation. An award-winning marine research centre here will release 500 giant clams into the sea after three long years of breeding and nurturing the natural sea water-filtering creature.
Ocean beauty: A diver checking the coral which the research centre has planted and looked after.
The Marine Ecology Research Centre (MERC) at Gaya Island, a 15-minute boat ride from the city, will sporadically release the three-inch giant clams in selected ocean nurseries during its month-long marine awareness month starting tomorrow.
Besides the clams, the oceanic research centre, which is attached to the Gayana Eco Resort at the island, will integrate 1,000 corals which it has planted and looked after into the reefs off the island and city.
Project director Alvin Wong said his team of marine biologists and support staff was eager to release the clams back into the sea.
“Hopefully, this first batch will make it. We will monitor their progress as we continue to produce more giant clams,” said Wong, adding that they had 2,000 more giant clams in their nursery.
“We chose giant clams for our Save the Giants programme because they are endangered, slow to grow and important in producing oxygen into the marine ecosystem,” he said.
Wong said the first stage of the project involved work to spawn the larvae and taking care of them until these were ready to survive in ocean nurseries.
He said the public must play their part to protect the marine environment by not polluting the sea or buying clams.
MERC, awarded the Most Innovative Tourist Attraction Award at the Malaysia Tourism Awards 2008/2009, is the only centre in Malaysia to have spawned giant clam spats.
As part of the marine awareness programme, he said MERC would also be hosting schoolchildren and non-governmental organisations to inculcate in them the awareness for marine conservation.
There will also be a beach concert by Irish crooner Ronan Keating at sister resort Bunga Raya Island Resort on the other side of the island tomorrow for the programme.
All species of giant clams are listed in “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora” (CITES), which means they are endangered and should be protected.
BalasPadamPublic harus sedar akan hal ini dan tak pandang perkara ni remeh. Pastikan giant clams dilindungi.
PadamSpesis yang dilindungi orang ramai tidak boleh sembarang mengambilnya.
PadamKestabilan ekosistem harus dipelihara.
PadamSetuju dengan Mark, kestabilan harus dijamin agar spesies ini tidak kepupusan.
PadamOrang ramai seharusnya di beri pendedahan dalam perkara ini agar mereka tau kepentingannya.
PadamOverfishing of giant clams is a serious problem, as they are considered as a delicacy and profitable seafood.
BalasPadamBesides overharvesting, climate change and pollution are also factors that speed up the extinction of giant clams. Excessive CO2 from atmosphere makes the sea water more acidic and lessens the ability of giant clams to grow their shells.
BalasPadamThe rise in sea temperature will also disturb the symbiotic relationship between the clams and the zooxanthellae that nourishes them.
BalasPadamHarvesting Giant Clams is a punishable offence under the Sabah Fishery Act, 1984, unless amendments have been made since and which the public may not be aware of.
BalasPadamSaya rasa public tak tahu ba tu. Yang dorang tahu sedap ba tu:P
Padamperlu ada kesedaran umum mengenai hal ini.
PadamOMG Ronan Keating.... Bestnya kalau dapat tengok dia live:) hehe
BalasPadamSudah lama tidak dengar lagu Ronan Keating, memang best kalau dapat tengok live
PadamHarap public akan dengar seruan ni. Patuhilah undang2. Apa yang dilarang tu janganlah dibuat.
BalasPadamOrang ramai harus mengikuti undang2 yang telah diperuntukan.
PadamTindakan dan hukuman harus diadakan kepada mereka yang melanggar undang-undang.
PadamYa, perlu ambik tindakan tegas terhadap mereka yang tidak patuh.
PadamSatu cara yang bagus ialah sebarkan hal ini melalu media supaya jangkauan public lebih ramai. At least melalui kempen ini public akan sedar t/jawab mereka:)
BalasPadamGolongan awam harus sedar untuk memelihara spesies yang penting ini.
BalasPadamProgram pemeliharaan dan pemuliharaan ekosistem ini amat penting.
PadamProgram ini pasti akan dapat mnyedarkan rakyat bahawa pentingnya pemeliharaan dan pemuliharaan ekosistem ini.
PadamPencemaran merupakan unsur penting menjejas keindahan alam semulajadi.
BalasPadammarine awareness programme, he said MERC would also be hosting schoolchildren and non-governmental organisations to inculcate in them the awareness for marine conservation.
BalasPadamSemoga program yang dilaksanakan dapat menyedarkan orang awam untuk menjaga ekosistem semulajadi.
Semoga program ini mencapai matlamatnya.
PadamSemoga program seperti akan berjalan dengan lancar.
PadamSemoga generasi muda yang akan datang boleh juga menikmati keindahan dan keunikan alam sekitar ini.
BalasPadamTindakan wajar harus diambil serta merta sebelum terlambat dan spesis ini mengalami kepupusan.
BalasPadamPerlu segera mencari jalan penyelesaian, agar spesis ini tidak pupus.
PadamPencemaran akan menganggu ekosistem semulajadi.
BalasPadamMaka semua ancaman yang datang adalah dari manusia sendiri. Maka jika manusia terus bertanggungjawab rasanya perkara ini akan dapat diatasi.
BalasPadammore marine territory in this state should be gazetted to protect marine life.. the gazetted marine area should not allowed any marine activities carried out there..
BalasPadam