"We now have the opportunity to start a model for the rest of Asia in planned
and responsible marine conservation," he said at the launching ceremony.
"The Reef Ball project and the formation of the Sarawak Reef Ball Working
Group are carried out to oversee all proposed reef projects in the State
and ensure a coordinated approach to marine life conservation."
The Group consists of representatives from the Environment and Public Health
Ministry, Tourism Ministry, Social Development Ministry, the Turtle Board,
the Marine Fisheries Department, the Sarawak Museum, the Sarawak Tourism
Board, the Marine Department, the Natural Resource and Environment Board
and the Forestry Department working in collaboration with the Reef Ball
Development Group Limited, Florida, USA.
For Project One, 1,500 reef balls of different sizes will be placed in the
Talang Talang region this year. Other selected areas, including Similajau
in Bintulu, have also been identified for the project, depending on funding
and the results of the first project. Datuk Amar Wong disclosed that the
Environment and Public Health Ministry had allocated RM300,000 for the Talang
Talang project.
On reef ball technology, he explained: "Unlike other artificial reefs and
barriers, such as barges, tyres and used car bodies, which are found to be
detrimental to marine environment and life, reef balls constructed from
fiberglass molds, using cement with the same pH as natural sea water, contain
no toxins or biologically active compounds.
Datuk James Wong pointed out that it was not the State government's intention
to make life difficult for fishing trawlers. "These reef balls are only meant
for areas like Talang Talang and Satang Islands and other areas that need
protection to conserve the marine life in the vicinity and the environment
as a whole," he said.
He hoped more companies would come forward to sponsor the manufacturing of
Reef Balls.
