Latest news with #MareCet
The Star
4 days ago
- General
- The Star
Bringing the sea closer to the people
Learning beyond classrooms: A MareCet outreach officer accompanying students during an intertidal exploration at low tide. — Photo courtesy of MareCet Research Organisation PETALING JAYA: After more than a decade of its establishment, marine research and conservation NGO MareCet Research Organisation has brought the sea 'closer' to the community. MareCet executive director and co-founder Dr Louisa S. Ponnampalam said the NGO has expanded its programmes beyond confined spaces, bringing students and volunteers out to the field. 'We expanded our sea, science and schools programme further by taking it outdoors rather than just being indoors, and we engaged with many more rural schools in coastal areas. 'We have since taken students out to sea in search of dolphins and porpoises, where they also get to experience being a junior marine biologist for half a day,' she said in an interview. Louisa added that MareCet has also brought students to the seashore to explore low tide as part of efforts to expose them to the marine world just behind their 'backyard'. To reach out to wider audiences, Louisa said MareCet is aiming to conduct more Sekolah Lestari initiatives, including rural schools in coastal towns. She said the group is also looking at developing the Love Our Lautan Stewardship Programme – a self-executed marine stewardship programme for local youth to build leadership and critical thinking skills in relation to marine conservation. 'At MareCet, we always strive to keep growing purposefully in our work in order to stay on track with our vision and achieve our mission,' she said. In 2023, MareCet was named one of the recipients of the Star Golden Hearts Award (SGHA) for its efforts to bring marine conservation closer to the people. Louisa said the recognition by SGHA is empowering and boosts the organisation's prominence at the national level. 'It has certainly given us visibility and increased our public following, which in turn gives us the motivation and confidence to keep striving to do better,' she said. Louisa encouraged aspiring changemakers to hold firm to their beliefs to make a difference, adding that 'no action or idea is too small, and no ambition is too big to make for our planet'. 'In a rapidly changing world, we need all hands on deck to turn the tide around for the better. 'Be strategic but also pace yourself because bringing about change is like running a marathon. It is not a sprint,' she said. The SGHA returns for the 11th edition to honour everyday Malaysians whose compassion and selflessness have made a lasting impact on others. With McDonald's Malaysia as the new strategic partner, SGHA is poised to broaden its reach and deepen its impact nationwide. This year also marks the debut of the McDonald's Caring Hearts Award – a special recognition honouring individuals or grassroots groups whose heartfelt acts of kindness have uplifted lives in profound and lasting ways. Since its inception in 2015, SGHA has honoured over 100 individuals and organisations whose efforts have inspired action, transformed lives and strengthened communities nationwide.
The Star
09-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Ecowatch: A walk in the park for the environment
A visitor listening avidly to the staff member manning the MareCet booth. The NGO focuses on research and conservation of marine mammals in Malaysia. — Photo: Taman Tugu HUNDREDS of people made their way to Taman Tugu, a park right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, to celebrate World Environment Day last month. Jointly organised by Taman Tugu and sustainability foundation Yayasan Hasanah, visitors to the June 21 event were encouraged to bring their own containers in line with its zero waste concept and theme 'Beat Plastic Pollution'. This was aimed at getting those who attended to rethink their consumption habits and reduce their reliance on single-use plastics. Many took the opportunity to browse through the booths and take part in the talks and workshops held by the various conservation and environment groups participating, including WWF-Malaysia, the MareCet marine research organisation, Free Tree Society, Marine Conservation and Research Organisation Malaysia (Pulihara), Reef Check Malaysia, and Roots & Shoots Malaysia. Other participants included Gerai OA, Sunda Shelves, MUFG Bank (Malaysia) Berhad, Fuze Ecoteer and Uniqlo Malaysia. The event was made possible with the support of Amanah Lestari Alam (Alam) as the sustainability partner. Alam is a national initiative aiming to transform Malaysians' mindset about and behaviours around the environment. Taman Tugu project development chairman Datuk Mohamed Nasri Sallehuddin said the organisers were encouraged by the strong turnout and enthusiasm shown. 'Events like these are important in nurturing greater environmental awareness among the public. 'Even simple steps, such as bringing your own containers, can create lasting habits that contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment for everyone,' he said in a statement. Celebrated annually on June 5, World Environment Day encourages awareness and actions for the conservation of the environment. 'Plastic pollution is a growing concern that affects all of us in everything from our natural ecosystems to the food we eat, and increasingly, our own health. 'Addressing this challenge requires more than policy solutions; it calls for a shift in everyday habits and greater public awareness,' said Yayasan Hasanah trustee and managing director Siti Kamariah Ahmad Subki. Yayasan Hasanah, she added, was honoured to partner with Taman Tugu in encouraging community-level actions that promote sustainable living and protect our shared environment. Alam chief executive officer Wan Faizah Che Din said her organisation was glad to support this platform. Taman Tugu, a 26ha urban forest park, is a not-for-profit initiative led by Khazanah Nasional Berhad, and supported by public agencies and civil society organisations. Managed by Amanah Warisan Negara trust, it aims to conserve heritage spaces and promote community well-being.
Malay Mail
08-07-2025
- Science
- Malay Mail
Whales, dolphins and dugongs live in Malaysian waters — here's why they need protection
KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — Do whales, dolphins and dugongs really exist in Malaysian waters? Yes, they do — and they're not just passing through. They live here, said marine biologist and scientific officer at MareCet Research Organisation, Vivian Kuit. Partially debunking the belief that such marine mammals only exist abroad or in cold climates, Kuit said the species found in Malaysia are not migratory strays but permanent residents. 'In fact, there are 27 species of marine mammals recorded in Malaysian waters. Among them are Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, Indo-Pacific finless porpoises, spinner dolphins, dugongs, long-beaked common dolphins, Irrawaddy dolphins, Bryde's whales and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins,' she told Malay Mail in a recent interview. 'The coastal waters in different states have different species. In Perak, for example, we've recorded four species, excluding Bryde's whales and dugongs. 'Dugongs, for instance, only eat seagrass, so they rely on habitats where there are large patches of it. 'Whales are usually spotted more offshore — like in Langkawi, Bryde's whales are quite common. But if you ask any fisherman, they'll say 'I just saw dolphins last week',' she said. According to Kuit, for those who spend a lot of time at sea, seeing dolphins and other marine mammals is a common occurrence. However, awareness of their presence in local waters remains low — and this lack of awareness contributes to injuries and deaths among the species, particularly from fishing activities. Vivian Kuit, marine biologist and scientific officer at MareCet Marine Mammal Research and Conservation, during an interview in Kuala Lumpur. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa Why dolphins matter The most commonly seen marine mammals in Malaysian waters are dolphins — and they are among the most threatened by human activity. Why does it matter whether they are dead or alive? Aside from being charismatic creatures, dolphins are top predators, said Kuit. That means they play a crucial role in regulating the marine food web. 'They regulate fish populations. For example, dolphins usually catch weaker fish that can't swim as fast, which helps maintain stronger genetics in the fish population and improves the balance of the ecosystem,' she said. 'Beyond that, dolphins are indicator species. If you've been seeing dolphins in an area regularly and suddenly you don't anymore, it can signal environmental problems such as pollution or overfishing. 'If I told you a small plankton is missing, you wouldn't notice. But if villagers who've seen dolphins since childhood suddenly don't see them anymore, that's usually a clear sign something's wrong in the ecosystem,' she said. When dolphins are caught in fishing nets Kuit said that fishermen sometimes catch more than just fish in their nets — especially when entanglement, or bycatch, occurs. Bycatch is one of the deadliest threats to dolphins in Malaysia and globally. It happens when marine mammals and fishing activity overlap in the same waters. 'In Kuala Sepetang, Perak, for example, fishermen use drift nets — a kind of net that drifts with the tide. 'That area is also frequented by Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins. When they overlap with these nets, that's when bycatch is most likely to happen,' she explained. When MareCet started its studies in 2013, there was very little data on marine mammals in Malaysia. But it quickly became clear that bycatch was a major threat, prompting the organisation to apply for and receive a grant from Yayasan Hasanah in 2023. 'With that, we launched our bycatch mitigation project — equipping fishermen with acoustic pingers for their nets to reduce bycatch and depredation,' she said. Depredation refers to dolphins taking fish from the net to eat. 'Sometimes, they don't realise there's a net in front of them, and when they go after the fish, they get entangled. 'Once entangled, they may panic and roll, which worsens the entanglement. Their tails might get caught, and since marine mammals need to surface to breathe, they can drown if they can't reach the surface in time,' Kuit said. She recalled witnessing a live bycatch incident in which a fisherman tried to release a dolphin trapped in his net. 'It's actually very difficult to release an animal when it's panicking. The dolphin was bleeding from the net. That experience was what motivated us to work with fishermen so they can fish without harming dolphins,' she said. Fortunately, Kuit said most local fishermen don't want entanglements either. 'In some countries, fishermen view dolphins as competition. But here in Perak, for instance, some believe that if a dolphin gets caught in your net, it's bad luck and the net won't catch fish anymore. 'In general, they're happy to see dolphins. To them, if the dolphins are happy, they're happy too,' she said. An Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin spotted during fieldwork in Kuala Sepetang, Perak, as part of MareCet's bycatch mitigation project with local fishers. — Picture courtesy of MareCet Research Organisation Fishing sustainably with acoustic pingers The solution MareCet promotes is the use of acoustic pingers — small devices that emit sounds to warn dolphins away from fishing nets. Shaped like bananas, the devices are also called 'banana pingers'. 'These devices emit a ping in the water that dolphins can hear, but other animals can't. Dolphins have a very high hearing frequency — while humans hear up to 20,000 kilohertz, dolphins can hear up to 50,000 kilohertz,' she explained. 'With the Yayasan Hasanah grant, we were able to purchase pingers and distribute them to fishers who joined our project. 'These pingers are available overseas, but not locally. They cost about RM400 each. As long as they don't get flooded inside, they last a long time, and they run on regular batteries,' she said. A fisherman in Kuala Sepetang, Perak, fastening an acoustic pinger to his fishing net as part of MareCet's bycatch mitigation project supported by Yayasan Hasanah. — Picture courtesy of Yayasan Hasanah What's next for MareCet? Kuit said the pilot bycatch mitigation project began in Perak, but MareCet now hopes to expand it to other areas, including Selangor. 'Bycatch is the biggest threat to marine mammals globally. The three species most commonly found in Perak — the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, Irrawaddy dolphins and Indo-Pacific finless porpoises — are also among the world's top 10 most bycaught marine mammals. 'So we hope to expand this to any state where fishers need these pingers,' she said. Kuit's interest in dolphins and marine conservation began as part of her PhD in marine biology, which focused on the ecology of dolphins in Perak. 'I'm from Sandakan, Sabah. I only snorkelled for the first time when I was 17. The moment I went underwater, I was amazed — it was so different, so vibrant. That's when I got hooked on studying marine life,' she said. MareCet hopes that acoustic pingers will eventually become more accessible in Malaysia. 'Nobody else is doing bycatch mitigation work here, unlike in many countries abroad. That's why with Yayasan Hasanah's funding, we're collecting data and presenting it to the Department of Fisheries Malaysia,' she added. According to MareCet's data, each fisher typically experiences one bycatch incident every two to three years. 'Since the project started, fishers have reported no bycatch, and their fish catch has increased by 30 per cent. 'Depredation by dolphins has also reduced by 70 per cent. 'On average, for every 24 fishers, you'd get at least one bycatch case every two to three years — which means about eight incidents a year,' Kuit said.
Tatler Asia
30-05-2025
- Tatler Asia
In harmony with the sea: Lush Malaysia and MareCet join forces for a conservation journey to Pulau Sibu
From bath bombs to coastal cleanups: How Lush Malaysia's latest marine journey to Pulau Sibu in Johor is protecting dugongs and reviving Malaysia's coastal heritage—one seagrass meadow at a time Tucked away off the coast of Johor, Pulau Sibu is a world apart—a sliver of untouched paradise where seagrass meadows sway beneath emerald waters and kampung life unfolds in quiet harmony with the sea. It is here, far from the well-trodden tourist trail, that Lush Malaysia embarked on its latest sustainability initiative, Marine Explorer in Sibu Island, in partnership with MareCet, Malaysia's foremost marine mammal research and conservation organisation. This remote archipelago, home to fewer than 200 residents, also shelters one of the country's last remaining dugong populations. These shy, endangered mammals are sustained by the island's flourishing seagrass beds — vital ecosystems often overshadowed by coral reefs, yet just as essential to marine biodiversity. Read more: These farmers grow your food, but can't afford to eat—this social enterprise is changing that Above Participants team up to remove plastic waste and debris during a beach cleanup at Pantai Buntot Meriam, with a total of 145.97kg of trash collected, reinforcing LUSH's message on marine protection (Photo: Lush Malaysia)
