SEMPORNA: A community-led marine conservation response team removed more than 1,300 crown-of-thorns starfish (COTs) from coral reefs around Tabawan and Adal Islands following reports of active outbreaks threatening local reef ecosystems.
The operation, carried out on June 1 and 2, brought together trained divers from Selakan, Larapan, Mabul, and Kunak Community Marine Conservation Groups (CMCGs).
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A total of 1,318 COTs were removed, including 742 from Tabawan Island and 576 from Adal Island.
The team was mobilised to assess and respond to the outbreak, which poses a serious threat to coral reefs as Crown-of-Thorns Starfish feed on live coral tissue and can cause extensive reef degradation when populations reach outbreak levels.
Field observations showed that most COTs in Tabawan were concentrated at depths of 18–20 metres, likely due to previous outbreaks having already severely impacted shallower reef areas.
In contrast, most of the starfish recorded around Adal Island were found in shallower waters between 1-10 metres, where healthier coral habitats remain at risk of predation.
Additional observations also recorded signs of COT predation on remaining coral communities, including impacts on soft corals, suggesting reduced availability of hard coral prey in some areas, particularly around previously degraded reef zones.
Coral bleaching was also observed at both sites but remained low, covering less than 10 per cent of each island’s reef area.
The team also documented the presence of ghost nets, highlighting ongoing marine debris pressures affecting reef health in the area.
Senior Programme Manager of Reef Check Malaysia, Adzmin Fatta, said community-led conservation efforts are proving to be among the most effective responses to emerging threats facing reefs.
“Removing more than 1,300 crown-of-thorns starfish in just two days demonstrates the value of investing in local conservation capacity. However, this is not a one-off solution.
Continued monitoring and rapid response efforts are essential, particularly in areas such as Tabawan, Silumpat, Bakungan, and Adal, where further outbreaks may occur,” he said.
The response team also stressed that while bleaching levels observed during the survey were relatively low, reef conditions across Sabah require close monitoring as ocean temperatures continue to rise.
Kunak-Darvel Marine Conservation Group diver Mohd Zaidi Morphy highlighted the crucial role of local communities in protecting marine ecosystems.
“As community divers, we spend a lot of time on the water and underwater. This allows us to detect threats early and take action before they become larger problems.
Protecting our reefs is not only important for marine life but also for the livelihoods of coastal communities that depend on healthy oceans,” he said.
Reef Check Malaysia and its community conservation partners are encouraging divers, tourism operators, fishers, and coastal communities across Sabah, particularly along the east coast, to report any signs of severe coral bleaching or unusual crown-of-thorns starfish aggregations to support early detection and response efforts.
Healthy coral reefs are critical for fisheries, tourism, coastal protection, and biodiversity. Early intervention and collaborative action remain key to ensuring Sabah’s reefs continue to support both marine life and local communities for generations to come.
