42among conservation bodies. Another
issue is where scientific findings have
been overly exaggerated to instil
fear in the public, which encourages
overspending on efforts to produce
results that may never be forthcoming.
Such scientists do not want to find
solutions, preferring instead to portray
coral conservation as too complex
for public involvement. This kind of
obstructive ideology puts a halt to
broad-scale coral conservation. To
address such unhelpful practices
within the scientific community, Ocean
Quest has created its own venue for
research and has opened its doors to
all underprivileged scientists.
Those with sound, effective and
realistic ideas can propose research at
no cost. Several research venues are
being set up under the Ocean QuestANUAR ABDULLAHis a self-taught artist who
has worked on underwater subjects in his
illustrations. His art is motivated by the desire
to encourage awareness about conservation
of coral reefs and marine habitats. Starting out
as a scuba diver in 1985, he quickly developed
an obsession with coral reefs that led to him
writing several research papers on coral
rehabilitation, especially those pertaining to
breeding corals in their natural environments.
He has also written a textbook on coral
propagation using techniques and methodology
he created. Anuar now runs coral propagation
programmes around Malaysia.above A spider crab
photographed at night
on alcyonarian coral in
Raja Ampatumbrella throughout Malaysia and
soon in Brunei and the Philippines.
Among the higher institutions leading
this collaboration are the Universiti
Sains Malaysia’s Center for Marine
and Coastal Studies and Universiti
Teknologi Malaysia. More institutions
from Brunei, the Philippines and Sri
Lanka will soon participate in this
regional endeavour.Partnering for the Reefs
Regional programmes should never
be a standalone effort. Ocean Quest,
Sea Shepherd Dive, Ikatere (France),
Yayasan Bank Rakyat and UNESCO’s
“Man and the Biosphere” programme
are all in for the good cause. As the
list grows, such programmes will
also grow. The cause is simple: to
propagate Earth-saving corals. agPHOTO DAVE FLEETHAM/DESIGN PICS/CORBIS