Kudat marine park to serve as corridor for endangered marine species

Kudat: Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat regretted the depletion of marine resources resulting from indiscriminate activities in coastal areas.

These include stone and sand dredging along coastal areas, fishing with cyanide and explosives and improper land reclamation works.

Chong, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, pointed out that tapping marine resources such as fishing and aquaculture is important to the State economy, especially in Kudat district.

His addressed was delivered by Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Karim Bujang, while opening a workshop detailing a roadmap of the proposed Tun Mustapha Marine Park at the Marudu Kudat Golf and Marina Resort here, Tuesday.

According to him, the State Cabinet approved the establishment of the park during a meeting on March 5 through an unanimous decision.

The proposed Tun Mustapha Marine Park covers a total area of 1,028,630 hectares, stretching to the Malaysia-Philippine maritime border involving some 50 islands off Kudat, Kota Marudu and Pitas.

The park, to be managed by Sabah Parks, will also serve as a corridor for a safe passage for endangered marine species, such as whales, dolphins and dugong, as well as turtles.

Furthermore, the proposed park area is rich with many marine organisms, apart from being a critical habitat for corals, mangrove swamps and seaweed, Chong said.

In this respect, the area should be well preserved and conserved for the future generations, he added.

He was confident that Sabah Parks would handle the area well, as it has been doing with Kinabalu Park, Tungku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, Pulau Tiga Park, Tun Sakaran Park, Crocker Range Park, Tawau Hill Park and Sipadan Island.

The workshop, from March 20 to 22, involved 67 participants representing the various departments under the Ministry, Kudat, Kota Marudu and Pitas district offices, Lands and Surveys Department, Fisheries Department, Sabah Museum, Evironmental Protection Department, Forestry Department, Wildlife Department and Marine Department.

Pacos Trust, Sabah Society, Malaysian Nature Society and UMS are also being represented.

Source: Daily Express