Marine Research Foundation

28/08/2026

Our school awareness journey continued at SM St. Michael Penampang!

In this session, students gained an understanding of marine plastic pollution, its impacts on marine life and human health, as well as practical ways to adopt sustainable behaviours in their daily lives. Through voluntary activities at a local recycling facility, students learned what can and cannot be recycled, as well as the proper ways to prepare waste for recycling.

Thanks to all the teachers and students who participated in this programme, and The SeaCleaners and Ripple - Persatuan Kitar Semula Sabah for supporting this programme.

🗓️: 28 Jul & 04 Aug 2026

13/08/2026

It’s site visit day!

Our students are excited to step beyond the classroom and experience firsthand how recycling and waste management work in real life. The session featured engaging activities that helped students understand the criteria for recyclable materials and the recycling process.

A big shoutout to Ripple - Persatuan Kitar Semula Sabah, our partner for standing with us in this mission, and The SeaCleaners for supporting this programme.

🗓️: 22 July 2026

06/08/2026

MRF has officially kicked off its school awareness programme in Sabah!

Bringing environmental education and sustainability awareness to students across the region, the initiative aims to deepen understanding of marine plastic pollution and highlight the importance of protecting our oceans. Supported by The SeaCleaners, the programme will engage students through interactive activities and discussions on the role we can all play in creating a healthier environment.🌊💙

Our journey began with SK St. Joseph, Penampang. A total of 176 students explored marine pollution through knowledge sharing session, engaging games, and hands-on activities.

Stay tuned for our next session, where students will get the opportunity to visit a local recycling
facility and learn more about sustainable waste management!♻️

🗓️: 08 July 2026

06/08/2026

What are fishers telling us about the changing sea? 🌊

Through the CMS Dugong Questionnaire, we spoke with small-scale fishers across Tun Mustapha Park to better understand how marine ecosystems have changed over time.

Small-scale fishers possess generations of local ecological knowledge and are among the first to recognise changes in the marine environment. Their knowledge is invaluable in guiding conservation efforts and strengthening the sustainable management of seagrass ecosystems and fisheries.

By working together with coastal communities, we can protect the ecosystems that support both people and wildlife 💪🏽

This project is in collaboration with the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund supported by Mubadala.

03/08/2026

For small-scale fishers like Pakcik Ali, the ocean is more than a source of income. It is home, heritage, and a way of life passed down through generations 🎣

Their knowledge of the sea is invaluable. They are often the first to notice changes in fish populations, habitats, and the health of coastal ecosystems. By working together with local communities, we can help protect seagrass meadows, support sustainable fisheries, and ensure these waters continue to provide for future generations.

Because healthy seagrass supports healthy fisheries and healthy fisheries support healthy communities 🌊

This project is in collaboration with the Mohamed Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund supported by Mubadala.

14/07/2026

🦈 Happy World Shark Day!

To celebrate this special day, we'd like to introduce you to the Bowmouth Guitarfish, or 'Yu Robot' as many fishers in Sarawak call it!

Although it looks like a mix between a shark and a ray, it actually belongs to the ray family. Despite its large size, this species is highly vulnerable to our everyday fishing activities. Through our SharkCam project, we have recorded bowmouth guitarfish being accidentally caught and landed on fishing vessels, even though it is one of the world's most threatened marine animals.

As scientists working to reduce the accidental catch of sharks and rays, we'd much rather see these magnificent animals while diving than on the deck of a fishing vessel. That's why the MRF team is working hard with fishers and partners to better understand and reduce this threat.

This World Shark Day, let's celebrate the incredible Yu Robot and do our part to ensure it remains in our oceans for generations to come. 💙

11/07/2026

What happens when you bring fishers and fisheries stakeholders into the same room? You get a collective voice for Sarawak’s oceans.

At the end of June 2026, over 80 key stakeholders - fishers, fisheries officers, scientists, government agencies came other and conservation organisations from across Sarawak gathered in Kuching for the Sarawak Sustainable Fisheries Management Workshop.

This workshop was designed to bridge the gap between local knowledge and scientific data. The goal? To identify practical solutions for strengthening sustainable fisheries while protecting Sarawak’s threatened marine species.

Through presentations, interactive activities, and focus group discussions, participants mapped out strategies to reduce the accidental capture of vulnerable marine species including sharks, rays, sea turtles, dugongs, and dolphins. The forum deepened the understanding how the loss of these key species and their habitats can impact the health and productivity of our oceans.

This initiative was jointly organised by the Department of Marine Fisheries Sarawak and the Marine Research Foundation, with support from Yayasan Sime Darby, the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, and the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong (OPCFHK) | 香港海洋公園保育基金.

🗓️ 30 June 2026
📍56 Hotel Kuching

29/05/2026

On World Dugong Day, we’re reminded that conservation starts with communities.

From fishers sharing waters with dugongs to coastal villages with generations of knowledge, conservation is rooted in lived experience. When communities are part of the process, conservation becomes more practical, meaningful, and effective.

This is what is doing in Tun Mustapha Park, Sabah, working alongside communities from the very beginning through surveys, community engagement, and collaborative research on dugongs and seagrass habitats.

Along the way, we listened to stories from local fishers, documented recent dugong sightings, and gained a deeper understanding of the realities faced by coastal communities where access to resources and infrastructure can be limited. These experiences continue to shape how we approach conservation with people, not just for people.

This project is in collaboration with Species Conservation Fund supported by Mubadala.

23/05/2026

31/03/2026

Our TEDs journey in the land of hornbills continues in Sibu! 🐢

From introducing Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) to building them from scratch, the workshop was a reminder that real change happens when people come together with purpose - reducing bycatch and protecting sea turtles, this time alongside Sibu’s local trawl fishers and DOF officers 💪

A big thank you to Jabatan Perikanan Laut Sarawak for co-organising this workshop and supporting the effort on the ground, and to Yayasan Sime Darby and Fondation Segré for their support in making this program possible.💫