The first Reef Check survey was conducted in 2012 by a team of six scientists from Reef Check International (RC), Reef Check Malaysia and the National University of Malaysia in 2012. A total of 44 sites were surveyed, covering all major reefs in Brunei waters and sites from the MPA areas.

 

The team recorded an average coral cover of about 40% and low Nutrient Indicator Algae (NIA) at most sites. They also found that Reef Check indicator fish populations were quite low and that most food fishes were immature, an indication of overfishing in the reef ecosystem.

 

Ghost nets were also found on almost all sites with a lot of construction debris found along the Champion Oil Field sites. Underwater visibility ranged from 6 to 20m whereas water colour was typically green to yellow, indicating a high density of phytoplankton.

 

The second Reef Check survey was led by Lydia Koehler and 7 newly trained EcoDivers in May 2016, just 4 years after the first RC survey. The team conducted the survey at 42 survey sites along 16 reef patches in May 2016. Survey was organized by Oceanic Quest Sdn Bhd, supported by Shell Deepwater Borneo Limited.

 

Reef condition was found to be in fair condition, with an average living coral coverage of 34%. Indicator fish and invertebrate population count were still relatively low, indicating that overfishing remains a problem in the country. They also recorded an increase in macroalgae covering the reef sites which may be attributed to increased pollution or nutrient input into the ocean. Such increase in macroalgae limits new coral recruitment and may lead to a shift in substrate assemblage in the reef system.

 

Both papers raised the need for more enforcement and compliance measures to decrease prevailing stresses on the reefs ecosystem and prevent it from further degradation. Some key mitigation measures include the need for more enforcement in no-take zones to allow reef fish population to repopulate naturally; need for more education programs to public and stakeholder meetings to improve compliance with regulations and day to day management efforts in MPA as well as proper reporting of lost fishing gears and other illegal fishing activities to the relevant authorities. Both surveys also concluded with a need for long-term monitoring program to monitor the coral reef status in Brunei waters.

 

For more information on the report, visit: http://reefcheck.org/reef-news/reef-check-concludes-first-comprehensive-survey-of-brunei-reefs

 

Reef Check Brunei serves to improve the coral reef ecosystem in Brunei through education, research and conservation. If you are interested to be part of our monitoring team, click here to see how you too can play a part in saving our reef!