Season 02 Episode 03

Synopsis

Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA) off the coast of Sabah, Malaysia, is an area of high marine biodiversity situated along the turtle migratory path in the Coral Triangle. It's home to 600 species of fish, 300 species of corals and an important nesting ground for the critically endangered hawksbill and green sea turtles. Since 2004, the marine reserve is managed and protected from encroachment of fishing activities by Reef Guardian, a non-government organisation.

Reef Guardian employees Edwin Alberto and Dr Achier Chung are Honorary Wildlife Wardens trained by the Sabah Wildlife Department. Assisted by round the clock radar tracking system and semi-weekly patrols, they protect the area from turtle poachers, fish bombers and encroaching fishing vessels. They risk possible violent high seas confrontation with aggressive fishing intruders desperate to earn a living.

We join our marine defenders for a deep dive in protecting the underwater world.

Marine biologists Dr Achier Chung and Davies Austin Spiji from non-governmental organisation Reef Guardian prepare a blast detector for use in the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area in Sabah, Malaysia.
The device detects blast fishing and the data is used to shape enforcement strategy.

Non-governmental organisation Reef Guardian’s enforcement officer Rayner Anthony monitors the radar for fishing vessels entering the protected waters of the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area in Sabah, Malaysia.

Non-governmental organisation Reef Guardian’s chief enforcement officer, Edwin Alberto and team inspect a fishing boat during one of their weekly patrols. Trained as Honorary Wildlife Wardens by the Sabah Wildlife Department, they are authorised to detain and investigate offenders caught with prohibited wildlife species.

Born into a family divers in a coastal town, Sabah native Edwin Alberto is no stranger to the ocean. His job as non-governmental organisation Reef Guardian’s chief enforcement officer comes with danger and sacrifice - patrolling the seas to protect the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area from intruders keeps him away from his wife and young children for months at a time.

Non-governmental organisation Reef Guardian’s lead marine biologist Dr Achier Chung first arrived in Lankayan Island in 2004 to help with the failing turtle hatching program. Under her successfully leadership, they now record an average of 400 turtle nesting per year.

Non-governmental organisation Reef Guardian’s enforcement team stops a compressor fishing boat in the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area in Sabah, Malaysia, during one of their night patrols. The divers use compressors above water to pump air through plastic hoses, allowing them to stay submerged and fish for longer durations of time.

Homemade spears, fins and other tools used by compressor divers found on a boat stopped by the non-governmental organisation Reef Guardian’s enforcement team during a patrol in the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area, off the coast of Sabah, Malaysia. Compressor diving is a dangerous and illegal fishing method which allows the fishermen to harvest the seabed more effectively, but with devastating consequences to the marine life.

Aerial view of Lankayan Island. Located in the remote Sulu sea off the coast of Sabah, Malaysia, with an area of 46,317 hectare, the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area comprises three main islands: Lankayan, Tegaipil and Bilean.

Inspecting a fish for ruptured internal organs - a sign of blast fishing. Blast fishing is a cheap and quick method to harvest large amount of fish in a short time. The fish was confiscated from a boat stopped during a patrol by non-governmental organisation Reef Guardian’s enforcement team in the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area, off the coast of Sabah, Malaysia.

Non-governmental organisation Reef Guardian’s team travels to the nearest village in Kampung Terusan Sugut in Sabah, Malaysia, for community engagement work. The local villagers act as the eyes and ears of the sea, reporting suspected illegal activities in the area.

Non-governmental organisation Reef Guardian’s enforcement team led by Edwin Alberto gives an illegal trawler boat a warning for fishing in the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area in Sabah, Malaysia.

Director's Statement

1) What drew you to the story in your episode?

I have always had an affinity for water. Sitting in a boat surrounded by the vastness of the sea and looking out towards the seemingly infinite horizon, reminds me that we are but a speck of dust in this universe. I am always curious to learn about new worlds from people who dedicate their life’s work to leaving the world a better place than they found it. And the sacrifices and difficult choices they make in order to do that. The documentary itself is not only important because it is about marine conservation in East Malaysia but because it also gives a voice and representation for East Malaysian stories which are often missing from the larger national narrative. Through my work as a West Malaysian filmmaker and journalist, I make it a point to create this platform whenever possible.

2) What were the challenges you faced during the process (e.g. pre-pro/research, shoot, post-pro)?

Filming in open waters is always a challenge, factor in unpredictable weather and sea conditions. We were also dealing with “no light” conditions at night. Having filmed similar stories in the past helped me to anticipate and plan ahead. But we also had limited shooting timeframe. The waves were really choppy during our night shoot and having to board a fishing boat with our safety and camera equipment in mind. Thanks to the assistance of the enforcement team and our production team, the film crew were able to carry out our work smoothly.

3) What were some of the memorable moments during the shoot?

The most amazing sight when we first arrived on the island is seeing turtles swimming in the crystal clear water around the boardwalk. And also witnessing two batches of hawksbill baby turtles hatching and being released to the sea.

4)What are your hopes following the release of your film in this series?

More than 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by oceans but over 80% of them remain unexplored. It is said that we know more about the Moon and Mars than the depths of our oceans which are largely neglected and abused. More than 80% of the marine pollution originates from land based activities. The oceans feed us, regulate our climate and generate most of the oxygen we breathe. The climate crisis is here and happening even if we do not see or feel its impact in our own neighbourhood or areas. With the release of the documentary, I hope it would spark interest for people to engage in constructive dialogue about what role each of us can play, however big or small, in order to protect the ocean’s health.

Who are the Defenders?

Edwin Alberto is a Chief Enforcement Officer of Reef Guardian, who leads a team of six to patrol and monitor the seas for fishing intruders day and night. The father of two has been with Reef Guardian since 2004, and remains unfazed despite threats to his life and being away from his family for months at a time. Besides being a certified Honorary Wildlife Warden, Edwin is also a dive master. Dr. Achier Chung is the Lead Marine Biologist of Reef Guardian. She is one of the pioneers that established marine conservation programs for SIMCA since 2004. She built and strengthened the Reef Guardian marine conservation team from just a team of four at the beginning to a team of 19 now. Dr. Chung was the first Malaysian to be awarded SeaKeeper from the International SeaKeepers Society.

The Last Defenders