Outreach programme

The aim of the outreach programme is to increase public understanding and support for biodiversity conservation in and around the Park. There is a wide and diverse target audience and currently the project is concentrating its efforts on local schools and communities living in the area.

One of the first activities was to engage with SMK Bum-Bum, a large secondary school located on an island just outside the Tun Sakaran Marine Park, and organise a competition to make a portable model of the Park. The need for a model was based on experiences from the SIDP series of Boatshows in 2005-2008 when it became clear that the Bajau Laut community have little comprehension of the geography of the Park from a 2-dimensional map. Traditionally, they use the land and seascape to navigate and are extremely familiar with the shape and contours of the islands – thus the need for a 3D model. Instructions and materials were provided by SIDP and the students were given one week to complete their scale models. Six excellent models were completed and are providing a useful resource.

SIDP has taken part in several publicity and awareness activities in and around Semporna, but he most important event has been a dedicated show developed from an MCS educational initiative called the Cool Seas Roadshow’. The Sabah version – the Semporna Coral Seas Roadshow - ran for 3 weeks during January 2010 and performed at 23 schools, the local public library and an island venue, reaching a total of over 4,000 children and around 200 adults. Most of the Roadshows were carried out in a school hall or large classroom, but a few were held outside.

Coral Seas Roadshow at SK Pekan Semporna © SIDP

Coral Seas Roadshow at SK Sulabayan © SIDP

Coral Seas Roadshow at Pulau Maiga in Tun Sakaran Marine Park © SIDP

Whilst many aspects were changed to make the Roadshow applicable to Sabah and the local issues in the Semporna area, the overall approach remained the same. The aim was to engage, educate and entertain children and raise awareness about marine life and conservation. In particular, it was important that local children learnt about the Tun Sakaran Marine Park ‘on their doorstep’ and understood its importance and the efforts being made to protect it for future generations.

Life-size models of charismatic species (turtles, dolphin, shark, humphead wrasse) were used to explain how marine species are threatened and what people can do to look after them. An activity called ‘Build Your Own Reef’ formed part of the Roadshow and was used to illustrate the diversity of life found on coral reefs and to explain how coral reefs in the Semporna area are being damaged by fish bombing and overfishing. Other interactive activities encouraged the children to think about the issue of litter and what effect plastic and other waste may have on the marine environment and its wildlife.

Interactive activities with dolphin and sharks: Semporna Coral Seas Roadshow © SIDP

Semporna Coral Seas Roadshow: Build Your Own Reef © SIDP

Children taking home the coral reef cartoon colouring book at the end of one of the Roadshows © SIDP

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