Sabah Dive Club sounds alarm over fish bombing, spearfishing threats to marine tourism
KOTA KINABALU: Despite Sabah being renowned as its diving destination, it raised concerns that rampant destructive and dangerous activities might affect the industry.
Sabah Dive Squad Club president Sim Fui said there had been reports of fish bombing and spearfishing around dive sites in the state.
"These destructive acts are not only damaging our marine biodiversity, but also pose life-threatening risks to divers as well as destroy coral reefs that are vital to Sabah's tourism and the only living resources for coastal indigenous fishermen community.
"Those responsible must face the most severe legal consequences. There is no excuse for leniency when the stakes are this high.
"Sabah's ocean assets are priceless, and we cannot afford to be passive. Protecting them is not just about preserving nature — it's about securing the future of our coastal communities and sustaining a billion-ringgit tourism sector," Sim said after the club annual general meeting here yesterday.
He called for greater collaboration between enforcement agencies, dive operators and conservation groups to prevent further degradation of Sabah's marine habitats.
In 2019, two China nationals and a local dive instructor in Semporna were killed by dynamite fishing while scuba diving off Semporna waters.
According to the Sabah Fisheries Department, the scuba diving industry has brought Sabah over RM500 million in income in a year.
Club member and conservation advocate Monica Chin shared recent alarming experiences from her dive team.
"We encountered three bomb blasts during just one dive session. It was terrifying. There was a day where eight fish bombings occurred in a day in the same area.
"In addition, we have received reports of scuba divers spearfishing in areas like Kota Kinabalu, Sepanggar and a popular dive site in Kota Belud.
"It is just a matter of time for divers to get injured due to spearfishing to happen and affect the diving industry,"
She added that the excuse of a lack of resources or manpower to patrol the sea is no longer valid.
"During the Covid-19 pandemic, enforcement agencies managed to impose strict movement controls and monitor large areas effectively.
"That same level of coordination and urgency should now be directed at seriously protecting our asset marine environment."
Established in June 2022, the Sabah Dive Squad Club — also known as Deus Diving Club — has grown to over 100 members from diverse professional backgrounds, united by a shared commitment to responsible diving and ocean conservation.
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