Malaysia's coral reefs in crisis as 34.1pct declared dead

New Straits Times

23-05-2025

KUANTAN: Malaysia's coral reefs are rapidly vanishing, with nearly 80 per cent showing signs of bleaching and 34.1 per cent already dead due to severe damage.
In total, 50.7 per cent of reefs nationwide have been affected, according to a recent comprehensive marine health assessment.
The report also identified Terengganu as the worst-affected state, recording a coral mortality rate of 44.2 per cent. Terengganu is renowned for its exceptional dive spots, especially around its island marine parks.
This destruction not only affects marine structures but also severely impacts the broader ocean ecosystem — including fish nurseries, coastal protection, and one of the planet's primary sources of oxygen, Utusan Malaysia reported today.
The loss of coral reefs has been likened to destroying the "womb of life" in the ocean.
These national treasures contribute between RM10.1 million and RM174 million annually, excluding their immense value in fisheries, ecotourism, coastal protection, pharmaceutical potential, and aesthetic importance.
The 2024 Malaysian Coral Bleaching Impact Report, jointly released by Coralku and Reef Check Malaysia following surveys in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah.
Professor Dr Zaidi Che Cob, Deputy Director (Development and Strategy) at the Centre for Natural and Physical Laboratory Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (ALAF-UKM), said that coral bleaching is not a natural phenomenon, but a global emergency that must be urgently addressed.
Malaysia's coral reefs are now in a "critical" state due to severe bleaching, placing the country's marine environment at serious risk, he warned.
"Coral is not merely a marine structure — it gives life, nurtures fish hatcheries, protects coasts, and contributes significantly to the world's oxygen supply. Its destruction is akin to demolishing the ocean's 'womb of life'," Zaidi said.
"The coral ecosystem is vital to the Earth's blue heart. Without it, much of marine biodiversity will vanish.
"These marine life forms support global fisheries, regulate the climate, produce medicines, and generate more than half of the oxygen we breathe. Yet we are now losing marine species at an alarming rate," he said.
Zaidi said coral bleaching and death are the main causes, with industrial trawling and microplastics further harming marine life.
The current coral bleaching signals our entry into the Anthropocene era — a geological age in which human activity has become the dominant influence on the environment and life on Earth, he said.
"The Anthropocene era undoubtedly brings immense challenges to the ocean's ecological balance, especially in this country," he said.
"Pollution, climate change, and habitat destruction are taking a serious toll on marine life. The scale and pace of biodiversity loss and species extinction are deeply concerning," Zaidi said.