Distribution of EDGE Coral Species and Community Perceptions of Reef Conservation in Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51200/bjomsa.v9i.6817Keywords:
community managed area, Coral Triangle, community awareness, coral reef conservation, Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered coralsAbstract
The Semporna Priority Conservation Area (PCA) in Sabah, Malaysia, is a Coral Triangle biodiversity hotspot increasingly threatened by destructive fishing, coastal development, and climate change. To address these challenges, this study assessed the distribution of Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) corals across ten islands alongside community conservation attitudes. Underwater surveys recorded six EDGE species, with Heliofungia actiniformis being the most abundant (n = 123 colonies), especially at Sebangkat, Larapan, and Sibuan. Conversely, Nemenzophyllia turbida and Lithophyllon ranjithiwere entirely absent. Overall, EDGE corals were largely concentrated in the central PCA, an ecologically vital but heavily impacted zone. Concurrently, household surveys (n = 47) across four islands revealed significant variations in environmental awareness (p = 0.003), with Larapan scoring the lowest. While awareness of fish bombing was uniform across the sites, Bum Bum residents demonstrated a significantly higher willingness to combat the practice (p = 0.041). Synthesizing these results identifies Larapan as the most critical site for species-specific conservation, whereas Selakan and Bum Bum present strong opportunities for community-led engagement. These findings highlight the critical need to integrate ecological data with local social perceptions to prioritize conservation effectively. Establishing Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) in Semporna is recommended to safeguard threatened corals and empower local stewardship, directly contributing to Malaysia’s biodiversity goals, the Global Biodiversity Framework’s 30×30 target, and the Coral Triangle Initiative.
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