Reef Check Malaysia warns of accelerating coral decline as bleaching, pollution and destructive fishing take toll.
KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia has lost roughly one-fifth of its coral reefs in just three years, an area equivalent to 47,250 football fields, according to the Reef Check Malaysia Annual Survey Report 2025, raising alarm over the future of marine ecosystems that sustain coastal livelihoods and food security.
The nationwide survey assessed 297 reef sites using the internationally recognised Reef Check methodology. It found that average live coral cover declined to 39.94 per cent in 2025, down from 44.65 per cent in 2024.
In 2022, national live coral cover stood at about 50 per cent.
RELEVANT SUSTAINABLE GOALS
A 10% Annual Loss of Coral Cover
Julian Hyde, chief executive officer of Reef Check Malaysia, described the five-percentage-point drop recorded between 2024 and 2025 as deeply concerning.
“Live coral cover reduced from about 45 per cent in 2024 to 40 per cent in 2025,” Hyde said in a statement on Jan 14. “That’s a loss of five percentage points, or 10 per cent of coral cover in one year.”
Viewed over a longer timeframe, the trend is even starker. Since 2022, Malaysia has lost 10 percentage points of live coral cover — about 20 per cent of its reefs.
“Imagine if someone told you that one-fifth of Malaysia’s forests were cut down in a few years,” Hyde said. “That’s about 47,250 football fields gone.”
Bleaching and Local Pressures
The report attributes the continued decline to multiple stressors, including the fourth Global Coral Bleaching Event in 2024, alongside unsustainable tourism activities, pollution, coastal development and destructive fishing practices.
Coral bleaching was observed at 67.5 per cent of surveyed sites. Signs of reef disturbance were widespread:
- 82.5 per cent of sites were affected by trash.
- 80 per cent showed evidence of abandoned fishing gear.
- 57.5 per cent experienced boat or anchor damage.
In Sabah, damage linked to dynamite fishing was recorded at 33.33 per cent of surveyed locations, underscoring ongoing enforcement challenges.
Marine Protected Areas Not Immune
The survey also found that populations of key indicator fish and invertebrates remained low, even within marine protected areas, where recovery would normally be expected.
These findings suggest that designation alone may not be sufficient without effective management, enforcement and community engagement.
Hyde noted that coral reefs, together with mangroves and seagrass meadows, function as critical nursery habitats for fish stocks and underpin the livelihoods of coastal communities.
“These findings are significant because coral reefs underpin livelihoods and food security for coastal communities,” he said.
Call for Co-Management and Sustainable Tourism
In response to the survey’s findings, Reef Check Malaysia is urging stronger reef protection measures, including reducing local stressors and expanding the role of coastal communities in conservation.
The organisation called on the government to adopt immediate co-management approaches that formally involve local communities in managing marine protected areas, while simultaneously strengthening ecological and economic resilience.
“Reducing local impacts gives reefs a better chance of surviving broader pressures such as climate change,” Hyde said.
The group also emphasised the need to shift away from mass tourism towards more sustainable models.
“We are not anti-tourism — we are pro-sustainable tourism,” Hyde added.
A Turning Point for Malaysia’s Reefs
With live coral cover now averaging below 40 per cent nationwide, Malaysia’s reefs face mounting pressure from both global climate events and local human activities.
The data presented in the 2025 survey offer a sobering snapshot of the country’s marine ecosystems — but also a roadmap for action. Strengthening enforcement, empowering communities and reducing pollution could provide reefs with a critical window to recover.
As climate risks intensify, the choices made in the coming years may determine whether Malaysia’s reefs continue to decline — or begin the long path toward restoration.
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