SUSTAINING FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
The seas serve many purposes: transport, food, recreation, even sewers. Because many Malaysians live, if not by the sea, close to it, much pressure is put on the coast. It is clearly important to value the coast and utilize it and the seas on a sustainable basis, not just for present but for future generations as well.
Generally, the seas have been considered public property, with many exploiting them, but few taking responsibility for sustaining them as national and international resources. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which Malaysia is a party, is an attempt to promote a more enlightened approach and ensure that countries live harmoniously with their neighbours and that disputes over marine resources be peacefully settled. Although such international agreements are welcome, enforcement remains an extremely difficult task.
One important aspect of sustaining marine ecosystems is control of pollution, much of which is land based. Two of Malaysia's early industries, rubber and tin, polluted Malaysian rivers and estuaries to such an extent that some species of animals and plants were affected. In more recent years, palm oil waste products, fertilizer and presticide runoff and sewage have become major pollutants. The long-tailed shad or terubuk (Hilsa toli) was once a common fish but has decreased in numbers greatly on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia because of pollution. Over the years, much effort has been made to reduce the loads of organic matter in rivers and estuaries; but these efforts will only have truly succeeded when the terubuk returns in large numbers. Oil spills, which also pollute the seas, are best prevented by enforcement of laws. Nevertheless, as accidents do happen, the country has a national contingency plan to combat oil spills.
Malaysia has had a few notable successes among its sustainable development projects. Mangrove management in the Matang mangroves in Perak is arguably the best in the world. Other positive local conservation efforts include turtle hatcheries and the artificial breeding of giant clams. Unfortunately, however, efforts to save the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) look as though they will fail for this species, which is projected to become extinct within the decade. The establishment of marine parks can be an effective way of protecting the seas. Malaysia has, since the early 1980s, designated eight marine parks and six fisheries protected areas. Uncontrolled and uncoordinated tourism development on adjacent coasts has, however, reduced the impact of conservation efforts in these parks. Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) is one recently fashionable approach to managing development for the good of all affected communities and the environment. To date, four ICM plans have been drawn up, for Johor, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak. Hopefully, they will be applied and bring long-term benefits and sustainability to the marine ecosystem. The importance of education and public awareness in getting mass support for the sustainable approach is championed by organizations such as the WWF Malaysia and in the country's universities.
