Expedition
SMEE Semporna Marine Ecological Expedition - Preliminary Results
20/12/10 17:37
Treasure Images Sdn Bhd successfully completed the video blog coverage of the Semporna Marine Ecological Expedition. Please read the press release on the preliminary results of the expedition.
Read More...SMEE Semporna Marine Ecological Expedition - Reflections
17/12/10 17:31
With only two days to go, the expedition members share some of their impressions and preliminary results with us.
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SMEE Semporna Marine Ecological Expedition - Working in Semporna
16/12/10 17:29
Nina Ho, a Conservation Marine Biologist based in Semporna, shares with us some of her impressions.
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SMEE Semporna Marine Ecological Expedition - "Agar-Agar" seaweed farming
15/12/10 22:21
Seaweed farming is one of the major alternative livelihoods for the people of Semporna.
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SMEE Semporna Marine Ecological Expedition - The coral reef
14/12/10 19:33
Zarinah Waheed of the Borneo Marine Research Institute comments on the prospect of Semporna's coral reefs.
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SMEE Semporna Marine Ecological Expedition - From The Netherlands to Semporna
13/12/10 19:04
Carel Drijver, Head of WWF-Netherland's Ocean & Coasts Programme, explains why the Semporna Ecological Expedition is important to the people of The Netherlands.
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SMEE Semporna Marine Ecological Expedition - Harvesting the reef top
12/12/10 23:14
In many parts of Semporna, we find relatively intact corals but very few invertebrates and fish. This is an indication of overfishing. The communities who live on the islands around Semporna have very few alternatives other than fishing and collecting food from the reefs. Their entire life is based on removing organisms from the reefs. With better management, including no-take areas, the reefs can supply large amounts of natural resources. However, local communities also need more access to income from sources other than fishing and collecting - this can include aquaculture, tourism and other sources, but must be managed for sustainability.
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SMEE Semporna Marine Ecological Expedition - Gall Crabs SMEE Semporna Marine Ecological Expedition - Gall Crabs
11/12/10 23:10
Sancia van der Meij is studying tiny gall crabs that live inside corals. She's fascinated by these organisms because there is still so little known about them.
For her research, she needs equipment that will shock recreational scuba divers, who
are by right always very careful not to touch anything on the reef. Only with a special permit, scientists can collect samples for research..
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SMEE Semporna Marine Ecological Expedition - Biodiversity
10/12/10 23:09
Dr. Bert Hoeksema on the marine biodiversity of the Semporna region after half of the Semporna Marine Ecological Expedition SMEE.
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SMEE Daily Video Blog - The importance of algae
08/12/10 22:59
Stefano Draisma, Marine Botanist with the Institute of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Universiti Malaya is elaborating about the importance of algae.
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SMEE Semporna Marine Ecological Expediton - Fish market science
07/12/10 23:01
Surveying coral reefs is particularly challenging because of the limited amount of time that a scientist can spend underwater, observing the reef. They are limited by the amount of air in their tank, the physiology of nitrogen in the human body, and limits of energy. Often, a visit to a fish market can yield many species that haven't been observed while underwater. A cursory visit to the Semporna fish market during the expedition's first "rest day" yielded 122 species of fish in one hour, of which 74 had not been seen during the first week of diving.
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SMEE Semporna Marine Ecological Expediton - The first week
06/12/10 23:03
During the first week, we covered the entire "Borneo Barrier Reef" from Roach Reef to Ligitan Island and Si Amil. During that time the teams have visited 22 locations (and with 18 divers, this constitutes approximately 400 total hours underwater). The biodiversity team has made some remarkable discoveries and the reef status team continues to assess the health of the reefs. The reef status team has surveyed 4.4km of coral reef and the highest hard coral cover, so far, is 78%. With two more weeks of surveys remaining, Dr Bert Hoeksema has found 38 species of mushroom corals. The three richest places in the world have a total of 40 species each. Dr Charles Fransen has found 70 species of shrimps and is looking forward to continuing to search for 2 more weeks. Several of the shrimp species are unusual and need further study. Dr Kent Carpenter has found over 400 species of fish within the first week. These numbers are early indicators of a very rich biodiversity in the Semporna Priority Conservation Area. Sadly, we hear fish bombs every day and have encountered several un-exploded devices on the reefs. However, everyone is amazed at the richness and diversity of the reefs in Semporna and we look forward to the coming two weeks!
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SMEE Daily Video Blog - Reef Check
05/12/10 23:32
Members of the Coral Reef Status Team talk about ReefCheck methodology and being on the expedition.
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SMEE Daily Video Blog - The Sea Nomads of the Coral Triangle
04/12/10 23:30
The Sea Nomads of the Coral Triangle Semporna has a rich mix of cultures. Among them, are the Bajau Laut. The Bajau Laut are a group of people who roam the seas on boats called Lepa. They can be found in the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, and migrate freely between the countries. The sea provides them with their entire livelihood. Many of them are stateless. These people are some of the main marine resource users in Semporna. The SMEE team came across some Bajau Laut boats and was lucky enough to be invited on board and allowed to interview with one family.
SMEE Daily Video Blog - Dr. Bert Hoeksema
03/12/10 21:00
SMEE Daily Video Blog - Affendi Yang Amri
02/12/10 21:05
Coral Reef Status Team Leader Affendi Yang Amri from University Malaya introducing SMEE 2010
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SMEE Daily Video Blog - The invisible shrimp
01/12/10 21:03
World's second observation of an 'invisible' coral shrimp A previously unknown shrimp was found last year on a sponge in the shallow waters near Ternate, Indonesia. Today, during the Semporna Marine Ecological Expedition, Dr Charles H.J.M. Fransen found the second specimen on the same type of sponge on a reef near Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia.
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SMEE Daily Video Blog - Expedition Objectives
30/11/10 20:55
SMEE Daily Video Blog - Launch in Semporna
29/11/10 20:58
The Semporna Marine Ecological Expedition was launched today on the MV Celebes Explorer. Organised by WWF-Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Universiti Malaya and NCB Naturalis, it will assess coral reef biodiversity richness and reef health in the waters off Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia. The Semporna District Officer was represented by his Assistant District Officer, Mr Norsih Nusuri.
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Treasure Images at SMEE Semporna Marine Ecological Expedition
27/11/10 21:11
Treasure Images has been contracted to cover the progress and results of the 3 week Semporna Marine Ecological Expediton from 29 Nov - 19 Dec 2010. Eric Madeja will be photographing and filming the work of the marine biologists and researchers during the Expedition. A daily photo- and video blog will be kept up-to-date by the communications team from WWF-Malaysi and Naturalis Netherlands.
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