Khamis, Mac 22, 2012

RETURN OF THE GIANT CLAMS IN SABAH WATERS

Return of the giant clams

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.

32 ulasan:

  1. 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.

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    Balasan
    1. Public harus sedar akan hal ini dan tak pandang perkara ni remeh. Pastikan giant clams dilindungi.

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    2. Spesis yang dilindungi orang ramai tidak boleh sembarang mengambilnya.

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    3. Kestabilan ekosistem harus dipelihara.

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    4. Setuju dengan Mark, kestabilan harus dijamin agar spesies ini tidak kepupusan.

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    5. Orang ramai seharusnya di beri pendedahan dalam perkara ini agar mereka tau kepentingannya.

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  2. Overfishing of giant clams is a serious problem, as they are considered as a delicacy and profitable seafood.

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  3. Besides 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.

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  4. The rise in sea temperature will also disturb the symbiotic relationship between the clams and the zooxanthellae that nourishes them.

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  5. Harvesting 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.

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    Balasan
    1. Saya rasa public tak tahu ba tu. Yang dorang tahu sedap ba tu:P

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    2. perlu ada kesedaran umum mengenai hal ini.

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  6. OMG Ronan Keating.... Bestnya kalau dapat tengok dia live:) hehe

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    Balasan
    1. Sudah lama tidak dengar lagu Ronan Keating, memang best kalau dapat tengok live

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  7. Harap public akan dengar seruan ni. Patuhilah undang2. Apa yang dilarang tu janganlah dibuat.

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    Balasan
    1. Orang ramai harus mengikuti undang2 yang telah diperuntukan.

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    2. Tindakan dan hukuman harus diadakan kepada mereka yang melanggar undang-undang.

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    3. Ya, perlu ambik tindakan tegas terhadap mereka yang tidak patuh.

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  8. Satu 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:)

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  9. Golongan awam harus sedar untuk memelihara spesies yang penting ini.

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    Balasan
    1. Program pemeliharaan dan pemuliharaan ekosistem ini amat penting.

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    2. Program ini pasti akan dapat mnyedarkan rakyat bahawa pentingnya pemeliharaan dan pemuliharaan ekosistem ini.

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  10. Pencemaran merupakan unsur penting menjejas keindahan alam semulajadi.

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  11. marine awareness programme, he said MERC would also be hosting schoolchildren and non-governmental organisations to inculcate in them the awareness for marine conservation.

    Semoga program yang dilaksanakan dapat menyedarkan orang awam untuk menjaga ekosistem semulajadi.

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    Balasan
    1. Semoga program ini mencapai matlamatnya.

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    2. Semoga program seperti akan berjalan dengan lancar.

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  12. Semoga generasi muda yang akan datang boleh juga menikmati keindahan dan keunikan alam sekitar ini.

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  13. Tindakan wajar harus diambil serta merta sebelum terlambat dan spesis ini mengalami kepupusan.

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    Balasan
    1. Perlu segera mencari jalan penyelesaian, agar spesis ini tidak pupus.

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  14. Pencemaran akan menganggu ekosistem semulajadi.

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  15. Maka semua ancaman yang datang adalah dari manusia sendiri. Maka jika manusia terus bertanggungjawab rasanya perkara ini akan dapat diatasi.

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  16. more 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..

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