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%.

Director Dr. Jamili Nais identified Pulau Mantanani Complex in Kota Belud and Darvel Bay in Lahad Datu as areas that are in the processes of gazetting and would increase the marine protected areas to around 11%.

All these coastal areas are prime locations for destructive and illegal fish bombing and these steps by the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry, Sabah Parks and Dr. Nais could help expand SFB’s work in the region. There will still be a lot of work before the 13% goal can be achieved.

“So for the new areas that will be gazetted the processes just started. They are still at the stage of proposal to the State Government, while the documentation and public consultation processes will also be implemented,” Dr. Jamili Nais said in a press conference.

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