Mantanani Divers founder Robert Thien removes the carcass of a hawksbill turtle from a ghost net in the sea off Mantanani Island in Sabah.
Tourism activities have resumed on the island since the state government gave the thumbs-up during the conditional movement control order .Reef Check Malaysia’s Adzmin Fatta, who runs the Cintai Mantanani conservation programme on the island, said he was with the divers when the blasts went off. “Our first dive at 11am started off with an amazing view of the vibrant coral reefs. Visibility was excellent and there were lots of corals and I could see small fishes hiding and feeding among the crevices.“However, soon after, we heard several loud fish bombs going off while we were still underwater. It was a terrifying experience as we know fish bombs can kill if you are close by,” he said.
Adzmin said islanders have told RCM the waters off Mantanani Island are a popular spot for passing trawlers, who would often discard their nets in the sea if they had trouble retrieving them. Diving instructor Aaron Gavin said reports of fish bombing incidents in the state are frequently shared in a WhatsApp group called “Sabah Fish Bombing”, which also included state enforcement authorities.