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PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release - 25 May 2006

Sipadan Reef Damages Assessed

Kota Kinabalu, 25 May 2006…..Recent reports of total devastation to Sipadan's coral reefs are grossly over-exaggerated. Last week it was reported that a barge carrying construction materials damaged corals at Sipadan. A survey to assess the damage revealed that the area impacted was 372.2 sq. metres ( 3,984 sq. feet ) according to data made available today by the Director of Sabah Parks to WWF-Malaysia's Vice-President Emeritus Tengku Dato' Seri Zainal Adlin who is also the Chairman of the Sabah Tourism Board. The incident was most unfortunate and should not have happened, even though the damage is minimal, and appropriate actions be taken by the relevant authorities against the contractor for the unauthorised usage and encroachment of the barge into Sipadan said Tengku Adlin He fully supports the Sabah cabinet decision that all construction works on the island be suspended, the scope and the specifications of the basic facillities project be reviewed and that development must be in harmony with nature.There are no two ways about it and must be stringently enforced.. . .

A WWF-Malaysia report on Sipadan published in 1993 shows the total reef area to be 208 hectares. Thus, the area damaged by the barge is far less than 1% of Sipadan's total reef area. Please see the attached photograph of Sipadan Island that indicates the damaged coral patch in the right perspective. As mentioned in a previous statement by WWF-Malaysia, Sipadan is a relatively healthy reef. When faced with few stresses, damaged, relatively healthy reefs can naturally recover rapidly.

A management plan for Sipadan must be in place as soon as possible. The management plan needs to be based on sound science in order to manage all human activities on the island and its reefs. Additionally, an annual 'state of the reef' report showing the results of coral monitoring and numbers of visitors for the year would assist in the assessment of the reefs. This will highlight management efforts and provide interested stakeholders with information on an area that they care for deeply.

It must also be recognized that there is a difference between managing the security aspects of Sipadan and managing biodiversity of the island. Responsibilities of the island's security management and of the biodiversity management must be clearly delineated. For the latter, Sabah Parks needs a full mandate and a proper management plan for biodiversity. Sabah Parks should be given full assistance by government, the private sector and local community stakeholders to manage Sipadan and other marine parks. WWF-Malaysia hopes that the management plan will be developed through participation and input from dive operators, divers and local communities as well as non-governmental organisations. A transparent,

participatory process will build more capacity amongst all stakeholders to help Sabah Parks manage Sipadan.

"Sipadan is a national treasure that is also highly valued by people all over the world. The minimal impact of the barge accident will probably not affect the exquisite diving on Sipadan," said WWF-Malaysia's National Programme Director Dr. Dionysius Sharma.

End of Release.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

WWF Branding
Please just use the term 'WWF-Malaysia' when referring to our organisation. Our name in Bahasa Malaysia is 'Tabung Alam Malaysia', and in Chinese is (馬來西亞自然基金會).

For further information, please contact
Angela Lim
Tel: 088-262-420
E-mail: alim@wwf.org.my