Merambong Shoal, Johor.

Merambong Shoal, Johor.

What Happened?

In the past, losses of seagrass communities in coastal area of Malaysia caused either by natural causes or human activity generally passed unnoticed or unrecorded. Decline and losses of seagrass particularly in many places in Malaysia including seagrass beds of Sungai Pulai estuary, Johor are abrupt and due to human activities. A good example was those in Sungai Pulai estuary, Johor of Tanjung Adang Darat seagrass shoal, which was at risk in 1998 and totally disappeared in 2003 due to dredging of the shallow shipping passageways and land reclamation for the development of new port facilities. Starting in February 2014, more land reclamation was planned to reclaim part of the Sungai Pulai estuary including seagrass bed of Merambong. Current status of reclamation work in Sungai Pulai estuary specific to seagrass bed of Merambong is reported and discussed based on observation through repeated visits to the seagrass area.

What are the impacts?

The seagrass bed in Merambong shoal is the largest seagrass bed in Malaysia. Species that can be found at Merambong shoal are Syringodium isoetifolium, Halodule pinifolia, Halodule uninervis, Cymodocea serrulata, Thalassia hemprichii, Halophila ovalis, Halophila minor and Halophila spinulosa. All of this species will be endangered because of land reclamation can destroyed this entire species. Other than that, seagrass also is a main diet for dugongs at Merambong shoal. Other marine species also will get the impact where the habitat for those species will be destroyed.

Can it be solved and how?

This problems can be solved by replanting the seagrass on the different places near Merambong shoal.