Based on surveys conducted from April to June, some of the affected areas were Pulau Payar in Kedah; Pulau Perhentian, Pulau Redang and Pulau Tenggol in Terengganu; Pulau Tioman in Pahang; and Pulau Pemanggil in Johor.
The mass bleaching event has serious implications for marine biodiversity, coral reef fisheries and tourism in Malaysia, the department said in a statement.
The department called for public involvement to help minimise the impact of coral bleaching, and urged tourism operators at islands in marine parks to control the number of tourists taking part in water recreational activities to reduce stress on coral reefs.
“Tourists should avoid crowded areas, refrain from any physical contact with corals during water activities, reduce the use of single-use plastics, dispose of waste properly and report sightings of coral bleaching to the department or relevant authorities,” the statement said.
“Most of the affected reefs are in shallow waters less than 10m deep. These sites are being closely monitored to detect changes in the bleaching situation,” it added.
“If bleaching exceeds 80%, further management interventions may include temporary access restrictions to protect the affected reefs. However, any disruptions to tourism activities will be minimised,” the department said.
The action is aimed at reducing the stress on already weakened reefs to ensure the survival of marine organisms in the future.
Coral bleaching is the natural response of corals to environmental stress, causing the corals to turn white and appear ‘bleached’. Mass bleaching refers to large-scale bleaching of various coral species over extensive areas, due to seawater temperatures exceeding the average normal annual temperature for prolonged periods.
The fisheries department said it is setting up a coral bleaching response committee with the help of representatives from Sabah, Sarawak, local researchers and civil society organisations to gather information and take action.
The statement noted that the recovery process for bleached corals can take several weeks or even several months but monitoring efforts will be carried out continuously.
“An action plan has been prepared and further information will be provided once available,” it added.
The department said coral reefs had economic and ecological importance as they provide a habitat and breeding grounds for up to one-third of marine species.
The economic value of marine parks, which are largely surrounded by coral reef ecosystems, amounts to RM8.7 billion annually through various ecosystem services, it said.