The diving fraternity here is hoping coral reefs around the Mantanani Islands will be better protected and promoted by the authorities.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry has set the goal of 13% gazetting of coastal areas by 2023. The ambitious plan will increase the protected areas from the current 7.4%.

Sabah Parks Enforcement Unit has detained a pump boat and a kayak operated by four suspects at Gaya Island (Tanjung Wokong) of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park on 15 April 2020.

With most of the world in practicing restricted movement due to the threat of the COVID-19 virus, the SFB teams have discussed how to move forward with these new conditions in both the US and Sabah.

The installation of four fish bomb detectors in Kota Kinabalu waters, including the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, is seen as a right step towards keeping an eye on fish bombing activities in the area.

Sabah Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Junz Wong said the problem of rampant fish blasting/bombing activities in the State’s waters can be minimised, if not totally eradicated, once the socio-economic conditions of the State’s fishing community have improved.

The state government must come up with more serious measures to stamp out fish bombing activities within Sabah waters.

Three fishermen were killed when an unidentified suspect threw a suspected dynamite that exploded near the victims’ boat while fishing in the waters off Barangay Danao in Balud town, Masbate province on Monday evening.

The dangerous practice of fish bombing is not letting up in Sabah any time soon.

The state government is looking beyond tightened enforcement to solve the rampant fish bombing activities in Sabah, says Datuk Junz Wong.