Keeping the seas alive
for our children's children
 Living coral reefs
are the foundation of marine life, and thus a crucial support for human life,
yet all over the world they are being destroyed. Already 10 percent are lost,
and scientists say 70 percent of all corals on the planet will be destroyed
in 20 to 40 years unless people get serious about saving the coral reefs
now. (Paul Kretkowski et al, MotherJones.com)
Appearing as solitary forms in the fossil record more
than 400 million years ago, corals are extremely ancient animals that evolved
into modern reef-building forms over the last 25 million years. Coral reefs
are unique and complex systems. Rivaling old growth forests in longevity
of their ecological communities, well-developed reefs reflect thousands of
years of history. (The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States
and Pacific, Turgeon and Asch).
 Introduction
These days, one cannot talk of ecosystems and biodiversity
without also mentioning the impact of development on plant and animal life.
For the most part, development and conservation cannot coexist easily and
harmoniously.
Regulations are necessary to ensure the survival of
the species, and the gazetting and conservation of natural parks is one of
the more effective methods of damage control.
The biodiversity of marine life in the oceans surrounding
Malaysia is varied, interesting and colourful. It is also very fragile and
easily upset by careless handling, human greed and sudden changes in the
environment. For example, The New Scientist magazine reported that
spawning of coral reefs in Australia can be wiped out by even low levels
of copper pollution in seawater. Offshore reefs near the Philippines, according
to Ocean Channel have been stripped and poisoned by cyanide and blast fishing.
The productivity of the Philippines' reefs has declined by one third and
about 30 percent of the reefs there have been declared dead. In China, Japan
and Singapore, coastal development has had a negative impact on reefs. Closer
to home, we've seen how the sea in Port Dickson used to teem with life, but
all that is mostly gone as a result of development. Likewise, the ecosystem
of the sea around Batu Ferringhi has also been irreversibly altered.
 Malaysia's coral habitat and the role played by the Fisheries
Research Institute (FRI)
According to the World Wildlife Fund, one of the most
amazing and spectacular wonders of the marine world is the coral reef and
its staggering variety of inhabitants – rare gobies , bivalves,
cephalopods, fishes, anemones and turtles. But due to decades of
over-exploitation and the effects of pollution, reefs are highly threatened
and their loss can be very detrimental to us all. Although coral reefs occupy
less than one percent of the marine environment, they are home to more than
25 percent of all known fish species.
 It is not surprising
then that one of the main focus of the FRI is in coral habitats. According
to the FRI librarian Puan Nor Hadzirah Ramli, the Institute's Aquatic Ecosystem
Section has for many years conducted baseline and advanced research on biology
and conservation of coral reefs, the latest being the baseline study for
Pulau Layang-Layang in Sabah. Research is also done on different types of
living and dead corals found in Malaysian waters and neighbouring countries,
the aforementioned life forms and other micro-organisms that coexist with
the polyp colonies.
I'm not sure if it is factually correct to describe
the work of the FRI in Penang as 'biological conservation' but one of its
key roles is to help the public, particularly the younger generation, develop
an interest in marine life. It is hoped that through this appreciation, the
significance of other subjects, such as the protection and conservation of
marine biodiversity, will be better understood. Although there is no school
outreach programs as yet, Puan Nor mentioned that group discounts are given
to visitors, especially those from schools, when a request is made in writing.
Busy periods are Thursday to Sunday when the aquarium receives visitors from
around the country.
 The FRI
aquarium
The are a total of 25 tanks, each one housing different
kinds of marine life, among them the beautiful lion fish, unusual looking
boxfishes, moray eels, colourful tangs, surgeon fish, cat sharks, the stone
fish which resembles a coral rock in shape and inertness (that is until an
unwary small fish swims too close to its mouth), brilliantly hued angels,
blue spotted stingray, fox face fish, parrot fish, squirrel fish, damsels,
bivalves and many others.
Different types of corals are also displayed, for example
the bubble coral, brain coral, mushroom coral and sea anemones, whose cluster
of tentacles superficially resemble a flower.
 One of the most
fascinating examples of near-perfect symbiosis is the relationship between
the clown fish and the meat-eating sea anemone. In the wild, the anemone
is protected from polyp-eating fish, like the butterfly fish, which the clown
fish chases away.
Additionally, the clown fish provides the anemone with
food by 'herding' small fish into the anemone's tentacles. In return, the
clown fish is protected from predatory fishes by the anemone's poisonous
tentacles. Because of this close co-existence, the demand for clown fish
in the aquatic trade has also resulted in the indiscriminate harvesting of
anemones.
 The last tank, which
measures approximately 15ft by 10ft and situated in a room which also doubles
as an auditorium, is quite the most mesmerizing of all the displays. Huge
fishes, like snappers, groupers (one of which measured at least 4 ft in length),
tudung periuks and nyior nyior swim constantly alongside a solitary green
turtle. Huge rocks add authenticity to the underwater setting.
According to Puan Nor (who gave the writer and photographer
a guided tour of the facilities), the massive tank is cleaned twice monthly
by removing three quarter of the water each time. She also disclosed that
the marine animals are sourced as and when needed mainly from Sitiawan and
Pangkor in Perak and previously Indonesia. Fishermen are also approached
to provide some of their more exotic finds.
The other tanks are cleaned once a week (Wednesday).
The seawater which is used to fill the tanks undergoes a triple-filtering
process before being used. The correct salinity and temperature is monitored.
Such precautions are taken because marine life forms are more easily upset
by sudden changes than their freshwater cousins. Sick fish are treated in
the Aquarium's lab by officers from the nearby Fish Health Research centre
with appropriate treatment. Because marine fishes are not easily bred in
captivity, dead fish have to be replaced with new ones. Some may be taxidermied
for posterity.
 The tactile approach
While the fishes and corals in the aquarium are admired
from a distance (for safety reasons), there is a section located outside
which allows visitors to gently pick up and hold immature and adult green
turtles (Chelonia mydas).
The tactile approach has been proven to be quite effective
in familiarizing humans with other life forms, be they reptiles, amphibians,
arachnids or mammals. The tactile area also displays the green turtle in
three different stages of growth – babies, bigger turtles and adult.
 Two large ponds are
home to a large school of sprightly koi or carps, patin (a type of catfish)
and a humongous arapaima gigas. Visitors may feed the greedy koi with fish
food that can be purchased for RM1 from the souvenir shop, which also sells
t-shirts, key chains, trinkets, and knick-knacks featuring fish motifs. A
canteen nearby serves food and drinks.
There is no entrance charge to the tactile area, souvenir
shop, canteen or ponds.
Conclusion
 As mentioned in the
opening quote, coral reefs are painstakingly built over a long time –
some experts claim as long as 450 million years. Over time, coral reefs have
become the largest ecosystem ever known, sustaining and supporting over 1
million species worldwide.
WWF revealed that more than 80 percent of this natural
wonder is under threat from coastal development, tourism and fishing. Malaysia
is no exception. If we don't do something now to prevent the damage, the
only marine creatures the future generation will know are what they see in
pictures. Or from a sculpture made with sea shells, like the cockerel
above.
Operating hours and admission fee
 The aquarium is opened
daily (except on Wednesdays) from 10am to 5pm. Get a glimpse of this fascinating
creature on the right and many others at the Fisheries
Aquarium.
Admission
fee:
RM5 for adults
RM2 for children from 7 to 12 years
RM1.50 per head for school groups
There is no charge for children below 7
Other
facilites
The FRI library has many scientific books and journals
on fishery from around the world. All reference books are categorized using
the Dewey decimal classification. Some of journals are subscription copies
which the library receives regularly so you get the latest information. There
is also an internet-ready computer available. At the moment, the library
is opened to the Department's researchers, outside academicians and students,
the latter two with prior written permission.
 How to get there
The Fisheries Research Institute and Aquarium is located
in Batu Maung, opposite the Batu Maung post office. You can get there by
bus no. 69 (the yellow bus which goes by the name of Milan), by cab or private
transport. The signs are quite clear and you can't miss the building.
The Aquarium of the Fisheries Research
Institute
11960 Batu Maung, Pulau Pinang
Tel: 04-626 3925 / 6
Fax: 04-626 2210
Written by
Raja Abdul Razak |
