Tok bali: The Malaysian Fisheries Department has allocated RM2.4 million this year for the deployment of 74 artificial reefs across six states as part of its ongoing marine conservation efforts. Deputy director-general of Malaysian Fisheries (Development), Datuk Azahari Othman, announced that the states involved are Kedah, Perak, Melaka, Pahang, Terengganu, and Kelantan.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, artificial reef initiatives are a key strategy in marine conservation with direct benefits to both the fishing community and the ecosystem, ultimately boosting national seafood production. A 2020 study by the Southeast Asian Marine Resources Institute (ISMAT) found that a single artificial reef structure supports an estimated fish biomass of 129 kilogrammes. The overall economic value of the 74 reefs deployed this year is estimated at RM6.2 million.

Fishermen have reported encouraging results, with some experiencing up to a 90 per cent increase in catch due to the artificial reef programme. Azahari shared these insights at the Artificial Reef Docking Programme held in Tok Bali waters. He further noted that 12 artificial reef structures have been deployed in Kelantan this year alone. Each unit, made of reinforced concrete, weighs 15 tonnes and measures 2.6 metres high by 2.5 metres in width and length.

Since 2007, a total of 312 artificial reef units have been deployed in Kelantan waters, covering the districts of Tumpat, Kota Bharu, Bachok, and Pasir Puteh, with a cumulative investment of RM6.26 million. The types of reefs used include soft-base reefs, soft-base reefs with trawl net barriers, recreational reefs, and steel reefs. These are classified into two categories: conservation reefs and recreational reefs.

Conservation reefs are designed to protect and support marine life within Marine Park areas, while recreational reefs support regulated fishing activities outside the parks, Azahari added.