Asian Geographic - 08.2018

Named after Sabah’s first governor and

gazetted in May 2016 – following 13-year-long

negotiations with stakeholders, including

80,000 locals – Tun Mustapha is run using a

softer, more-pragmatic approach that accounts

for the realities of village life. Here, poachers

are often neighbours and friends, and reporting

infringements creates hostility. Instead,

fishermen decide themselves which zones

of park waters may be fished, and which are

off-limits breeding sites. The WWF also funds

and trains villagers in projects like restoring

mangroves, which act as fish nurseries.

WWF Malaysia’s lead community organiser,

Joannie Jomitol, says the organisation is

hopeful about the recovering ecosystems

and engaged communities. She adds that

conservation bodies are making door-to-door

trips to explain in layman terms how proper

park management can benefit villagers.

“What we want to do is give them the

knowledge and information they need to know

about the situation of the sea and the fishery

status, but through their own understanding,

asking questions like: ‘What was it like 20

years ago?’” she says. “Because if you say the

coral is damaged – no coral, no fish – they

don’t see that. When they see coral, they see

only rocks. You need to talk to them about

things that relate to them, like fisheries and

their livelihood.”

Though conservation education is still

uneven among communities due to the park’s

massive range, this is expected to improve as

more of its 50 islands receive wardens. In the

meantime, the endangered green turtle nests

on Tigabu’s beaches have Saman to patrol

them, and as the hatchlings struggle out to

sea, it’s his job to gather the community to

watch and teach – a sight that moves even the

most hard-hearted of poachers to consider the

consequences of their actions. Ag

left Absan Saman,

44, Tigabu’s resident

wildlife warden

bottom left Stilted

buildings in the

shallows of Tigabu

mAlAysiA

R e d

Sea

taritipan

malawali

sAbAh

sulu seA

tun mustapha marine park

s o uth

chiNA seA

pitas

berungus

simpang

mengayau

balambagan

banggi

kudat

“When they see coral, they

see only rocks. You need to

talk to them about things

that relate to them, like

fisheries and their livelihood”

Joannie Jomitol, WWF Malaysia

33 DATA SOURCES: ANOTHER, STAR 2, WWF MALAYSIA