Kota Kinabalu: Sabah will nearly double its Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) from the current 7.4 per cent to 13 per cent by 2025, in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’s “30x30” global commitment.
Sabah Parks Director Datuk Dr Maklarin Lakim said the move reflects the State’s ambition to place Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ) at the heart of both environmental preservation and the resilience of Sabah’s blue economy.
“Marine conservation is not only about protecting biodiversity but also about ensuring the resilience of our blue economy for future generations,” he said when presenting a plenary at the 3rd Asean Blue Economy Forum 2025 exhibition at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), Tuesday.
Among the new areas identified for gazettement are Darvel Bay Marine Park in Lahad Datu, Mengalum Island near Kota Kinabalu, Mantanani Island in Kota Belud, Tambisan Island in Lahad Datu and Ligitan Island in Semporna.
Currently, Sabah Parks manages 65 marine parks, three terrestrial parks and three proposed marine parks, covering a total of 1.2 million hectares or 16.5 per cent of the State’s area. About 80 per cent of Sabah’s borders are coastal, yet only 7.5 per cent of its sea area has so far been protected.
He highlighted that iconic sites like Turtle Islands Park, gazetted in 1977 and serving as a major nesting ground for Green and Hawksbill turtles, and the Tun Mustapha Park, gazetted in 2016, demonstrate the scale and importance of conservation.
Tun Mustapha Park alone spans almost 900,000 hectares, with more than 50 islands and over 80,000 residents. It is also the second largest producer of seaweed in Sabah.
Marine parks, he said, function as living sanctuaries by providing “no-take” zones, coral rehabilitation programmes, clam conservation, scientific research and community engagement.
“They also protect seven iconic species, including turtles, whale sharks, manta rays, dolphins and the rare coconut crab.
“Eco-tourism remains one of the strongest avenues for monetising marine resources,” Maklarin said.
He noted that Sabah’s marine parks boast more than 1,000 dive sites, especially in Tun Sakaran Marine Park and Darvel Bay.
Sabah Parks recorded over 1.7 million visitors between 2013 and 2023, underlining the tourism value of conservation.
“The eco-livelihood model being promoted by Sabah Parks is designed to conserve natural and cultural heritage, boost rural infrastructure, create alternative incomes for coastal communities and contribute directly to Sabah’s and Malaysia’s economy in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG),” he said.
But he cautioned that multiple threats remain, ranging from destructive fishing methods, overfishing and turtle poaching, to coral bleaching, red tide, oil spills and the pressures of mass tourism.
“Climate change adds another layer of risk that we cannot ignore,” he said.
Enforcement, however, is being stepped up. A mobile enforcement station has been established in Marudu Bay at Tun Mustapha Park, while Sabah Parks has worked closely with WWF-Malaysia in a long-term collaboration since 2016 to strengthen conservation.
Maklarin also recalled the agency’s planning journey, starting with the 1992 Management and Development Plan, followed by the launch of its 2015–2025 Strategic Plan.
“Despite major disruptions from the 2015 earthquake and the Covid-19 pandemic, we remain on course,” he said, adding that by 2023 Sabah Parks had achieved financial self-sustainability.
He emphasised that the agency’s vision remains clear: for the people of Sabah to live in harmony with nature, supported by seven long-term goals and nine strategic pillars.
“We are blessed to sit at the heart of the Coral Triangle. One of the world’s richest marine ecosystems, and that brings both opportunities and responsibilities,” he said.
