AN ASSESSMENT ON THE EFFECTS OF THE TSUNAMI ON THE MALAYSIAN CORAL REEFS Zulfigar Yasin, Anisah Lee and Aileen Tan Centre for Marine And Costal Studies Universiti Sains Malaysia

Location of North Malaysian coast affected by the Tsunami

Landsat Thematic Mapper image of the coastal region of North Peninsular Malaysia

LANGKAWI ISLANDS PAYAR ISLANDS SONGSONG ISLANDS PENANG ALOR SETAR Kuala Kedah Merbok Kota Kuala Muda Butterworth Muka Head Marine Research Station USM North STRAITS OF MALACCA Scale 1: Georgetown Existing Coastal Habitats

LANGKAWI ISLANDS PAYAR ISLANDS SONGSONG ISLANDS PENANG ALOR SETAR Kuala Kedah Merbok Kota Kuala Muda Butterworth MukaHead Marine Research Station USM North STRAITS OF MALACCA Scale 1: Sg. Aceh Sg. Muda Sg. Merbok Sg. Kedah Sg. Udang Pu. Kendi Balik Pulau Tk. Bahang Bt. Feringghi Pu. Singa Besar Pu. Beras Basah Pu. Segantang Pu. Payar Pantai Chenang Pantai Kok Tg. Malai Areas of tsunami impact

Muka Head Marine Research Station Universiti Sains Malaysia

Research on the Seas and Islands of Malaysia (ROSES) - Voyage Route 2004 LEGEND SECTION 1 SECTION 3

Coral reefs – offshore islands Offshore reefs islands surveyed Evidence unlike that of large storm damage Erosion on reef tops especially the reef edge Sediment resuspension and damage to fragile coral skeletons

Fringing reefs Deeper water reefs less affected Shallow and intertidal reefs most affected Evidence of secondary effects of tsunami already seen Stress monitoring underway

Sea grass beds and mudflats Mudflats and coastal sandy beaches show change in beach profile Changes in animal community profile Epifauna affected Indication of community changes

Sea condition three hours after the tsunami event - ebbing tide

Sea condition - 8 minutes later

Fish kill a day after the tsunami event

Remains of fishermen’s aquaculture cages in Penang - 3 hours after the tsunami event

Largest change of generic reef types between the SCS and the Indian Ocean

Some salient points Important not to generalise impacts Important not to generalise impacts Pre-tsunami data and ecological behaviour critical in assessment Pre-tsunami data and ecological behaviour critical in assessment Immediate post tsunami monitoring important for effects not to be masked Immediate post tsunami monitoring important for effects not to be masked Assessment must have a predictive value and therefore detail scientific assessment important Assessment must have a predictive value and therefore detail scientific assessment important Devastation in Acheh reefs and Malaysian offshore islands mostly unknown Devastation in Acheh reefs and Malaysian offshore islands mostly unknown Immediate need to set up post tsunami assessment specifically for coral reefs in the impacted areas of Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia Immediate need to set up post tsunami assessment specifically for coral reefs in the impacted areas of Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia