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Ban on flippers in marine parks
KUALA TERENGGANU: The use of flippers by snorkellers is to be
banned at all marine parks in the State.
Resort
operators have been given one week to notify their guests of the
directive.
 The move follows a recommendation from the Fisheries
Department that the use of flippers had damaged corals at popular
snorkelling sites in the marine parks.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri
Idris Jusoh said the lure of the beautiful coral reefs was irresistible
and snorkellers often stepped on them when trying to get a closer
look.
"It takes years for the corals to grow and just minutes for
it to be damaged by the feet of the inexperienced snorkellers," he said
yesterday.
Idris was worried that the damage to the corals could
become more extensive as the number of visitors to the marine parks
increased, especially during long holidays.
However, divers will be
allowed to use flippers at dive sites identified by resorts and chalet
operators.
Idris also said he was waiting for a report from the
Kolej Universiti Sains dan Teknologi Malaysia on the design of more
durable artificial-reef balls.
The reef balls currently used in
the artificial coral reef project were all designed by foreign
consultants.
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