Following investigatory work for Green Fins in Pulau Tioman in 2009 we are delighted to say the Green Fins approach is now up and running on the island. This has been made possible through a partnership between Department of Marine Parks Malaysia (DMPM), Reef Check Malaysia and, of course, supported by the dive centres on Tioman Island.
A five-day workshop was conducted in the grounds of DMPM in Tekek, Pulau Tioman from 18th-22nd March by Reef-World. The training in the classroom and in the field was a huge success and we are happy to say we now have four very strong Green Fins Assessors from DMPM and Reef Check Malaysia. We are very confident this team will continue to fly the Green Fins flag with great success in Tioman.
Our aim to implement best practice guidelines for the dive and snorkelling industry has already had a positive impact on Tioman and we were thrilled to see Green Fins practices still in place in the dive centres that became members in 2009. This is a true testament to the project’s success and its ongoing capacity development. The islands and coasts of Malaysia are home to many more diving hotspots and, therefore, increasing levels of tourism. Plans are already being discussed about the possibility of implementing Green Fins on some of the other islands in Malaysia such as Perenthian and Redang. So, watch this space for more news! In the meantime, you can check out the ongoing Green Fins activities on Tioman by visiting the Green Fins Facebook page.
In Malaysia, Green Fins was launched in 2004 and is run by Reef Check Malaysia in partnership with the Department of Marine Parks Malaysia (DMPM) on the Peninsula and Sabah Parks in Sabah. Membership is not yet available in Sarawak.
