MareCet Marine Mammal Research & Conservation

MareCet Marine Mammal Research & Conservation MareCet was established in 2012 to research & conserve marine mammals and their habitats in Malaysia

28/05/2026

28 MAY 2026 - CELEBRATING DUGONGS GLOBALLY, LOCALLY

Dugongs. Creatures of myth; gentle and shy; loving mothers; cheeky calves; picky eaters; farty fellas; seagrass gardeners. We could go on and on about reasons why we treasure these animals.

Which is why at MareCet, we are dedicated to ensuring their continued survival and protection. MareCet conducts long-term dugong research and conservation work in the Mersing Archipelago, an area we consider to be one of the last strongholds for dugongs in Malaysia. It's such a core habitat area that in 2019, the IUCN considered all our ecological data and recognised it as the Mersing Archipelago Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA).

This WORLD DUGONG DAY 2026, let's celebrate these animals and ensure we do our part to protect them. Share with us down below why you like dugongs, or perhaps a cool fact you've learned about them!

Of course, the important dugong conservation work we do would not be possible without the generous support of MISC Group and also by Mubadala, in collaboration with The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.

This drone footage was captured under Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) permit number CAAM/BOP/ATF/P2026/03/0247 and Department of Survey and Mapping (JUPEM) permit number JUPEM.BGSP.2026.5126.UDARA. The research is being conducted under Marine Park research permit number Prk.ML.630-7 Jld17(13) issued by the Department of Fisheries Malaysia.



Cintai Kepulauan Mersing MY Mersing

UPDATES FROM THE FIELD! MareCet begins surveys in a new local geographic region, filling knowledge gaps.And so the Penin...
26/05/2026

UPDATES FROM THE FIELD! MareCet begins surveys in a new local geographic region, filling knowledge gaps.

And so the Peninsular Malaysia West Coast Marine Mammal Rapid Assessment Surveys continues! This round brought us to the coastal waters of Johor, where we surveyed the state's entire west coast to search for marine mammals and better understand their distribution in these waters.

The survey began with beautiful weather, glassy seas, and perfect survey conditions! But as always, the ocean had other plans, ending our trip with rough seas and stormy weather.

One of the highlights of this survey was finally sighting Irrawaddy dolphins! Although the encounters were brief and the dolphins remained as elusive as ever, we were thrilled to finally spot them in Johor waters.

Conversations with local fishermen also revealed that Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins are regularly seen in the area, though we have yet to encounter them ourselves… perhaps on our next survey trip to Johor!

Stay tuned to follow our journey as we continue exploring the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and to find out where we head next! This project is made possible with the support from Yayasan Hasanah and Kementerian Kewangan. Also huge thank you to our volunteer for helping out!

Every year dugongs are celebrated globally on World Dugong Day, which officially falls on 28 May. But guess what? World ...
25/05/2026

Every year dugongs are celebrated globally on World Dugong Day, which officially falls on 28 May. But guess what? World Dugong Day came early for us this year, as we turned learning into adventure ahead of time to commemorate that special day for our most beloved local sirenian! 'X' marks the spot, and we sure sent the kids of GEMPAK Mersing running amok in search of hidden clues and treasure! 🗺️

This past week, MareCet and GEMPAK Mersing brought World Dugong Day to life through a dugong-themed treasure hunt! We kicked things off with our dugong and seagrass activity book, where the kids discovered all about dugongs, seagrass meadows, threats, and conservation actions. All in anticipation for the day ahead. The kids were separated into teams and briefed on a series of game stations. The stations included a Taboo-esque charades game with the kids acting out different dugong behaviours, a blindfold challenge designed to teach them teamwork and coordination, a storytelling station where they let their imagination run wild to create and perform their own dugong myths, and an origami speed challenge to see who could fold dugong origami the fastest!

The kids also solved riddles about seagrass-associated animals. To make it more challenging, they then had to search all around the park for matching clue cards representing those animals. Each activity was carefully curated to ensure lessons from our previous sessions were wholly understood and reinforced.

Most importantly, the day was all about celebrating dugongs, and instilling a sense of stewardship, pride, and wonder toward these gentle animals and their seagrass habitats that are found right in their backyard (so to speak) in Mersing.

Thank you to Mohammad bin Zayed Conservation Fund Species Conservation Fund supported by Mubadala for supporting this journey with GEMPAK Mersing!

Mersing

🐬 FINS MEETING HANDS; ART MEETS CONSERVATION 🧵🪡Recently on 2 May 2026, we had the honour of being part of Project Riwaya...
22/05/2026

🐬 FINS MEETING HANDS; ART MEETS CONSERVATION 🧵🪡

Recently on 2 May 2026, we had the honour of being part of Project Riwayat: Katha 1 - Voices of the Vanishing, a creative exhibition highlighting several endangered species in Malaysia, including the Irrawaddy dolphin that is especially close to our hearts at MareCet.

Through art, storytelling and conversations, Project Riwayat: Katha 1 explored how the disappearance of wildlife can threaten the crafts, stories and and cultural heritages tied to them. What made this exhibition more inspiring is its reminder that conservation is not all gloom and doom - there’s hope, connection and collective action, and everyday Malaysians can contribute positively to the cause in their own ways.

As part of the programme, our Executive Director, Dr Louisa gave a wonderful talk titled, “The Fins Among Us: Why Co-Existence with Marine Mammals Matter”, connecting us land Malaysians to our very own sea Malaysians, i.e., the marine mammals sharing these waters with us. And what an amazing turn out we had!

Master puppeteer Bright Ong beautifully handcrafted three Irrawaddy dolphin puppets that were adorned with batik elements. That nice touch made it all feel really close to home for us lot who love batik. We were deeply moved by the puppet activations, especially during the scene when an Irrawaddy dolphin became entangled in a net. It was also heartwarming (and tearjerking!) to hear the acoustic recordings of Irrawaddy dolphins recorded during our fieldwork in Perlis being woven into the performance!

Artist extraordinaire Christine Das’ textile artworks in ‘Hanging by a Thread’, inspired by traditional Indian saree embroidery and featuring several wildlife species, were also stunning and left us all in awe.

Thank you so much to Bright Ong and Christine Das for the opportunity to contribute to this incredibly meaningful project.

21/05/2026

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE! One of these....is not like the other 🤔

If you think your eyes are deceiving you, that's exactly how our Dugong Research and Conservation (DRC) team felt during one of our survey days last month! We were out working with a herd of dugongs, when suddenly, one of the dugongs had.....a dorsal fin....? Safe to say we were a little confused, excited, and slightly doubtful! Luckily, we were flying the drone, which helped us quickly confirm our suspicions! There, amongst the dugongs, was an individual Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin cruising along. "Why?" is a golden question, but the interaction did not appear competitive or antagonistic.

This was the first time ever (in 16 years of this programme's history) that our team observed inter-species interactions between the dugongs and another marine mammal species. An exciting morning indeed, made even better with the sighting of a mother and calf dugong in the mix!

The Mersing Archipelago is designated as an Important Marine Mammal Area (IMMA), and observations like these are crucial to understanding habitat use by marine mammals within the IMMA.

This work is made possible through MISC Group in collaboration with Species Conservation Fund supported by Mubadala.

This drone footage was captured under Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) permit number CAAM/BOP/ATF/P2026/03/0247 and Department of Survey and Mapping (JUPEM) permit number JUPEM.BGSP.2026.5126.UDARA. The research is being conducted under Marine Park research permit number Prk.ML.630-7 Jld17(13) issued by the Department of Fisheries Malaysia.

WE’RE HIRING!MareCet is looking for a RESEARCH ASSISTANT to join our team and support marine mammal research and conserv...
20/05/2026

WE’RE HIRING!

MareCet is looking for a RESEARCH ASSISTANT to join our team and support marine mammal research and conservation efforts across Malaysia.

If you’re passionate about marine conservation, enjoy both fieldwork and desk-based research, and want to contribute to meaningful conservation initiatives, this opportunity could be for you.

This is a full-time contract position with a salary of RM2,800/month.
Full details can be found in the post.

Apply now and be part of the team!

WE'RE HIRING! MareCet is looking for a motivated and community-oriented individual to join our team in Mersing, Johor, a...
19/05/2026

WE'RE HIRING!

MareCet is looking for a motivated and community-oriented individual to join our team in Mersing, Johor, as a FIELD LIAISON OFFICER! (FLO)!

The FLO will work closely with local fishing communities and stakeholders to support marine mammal conservation, community engagement, and field activities under our Dugong Research & Conservation (DRC) Project.

If you enjoy working with people, are passionate about conservation, and are comfortable spending time in coastal communities and the field, we'd love to hear from you!

📍Based in Mersing, Johor
📅 Application deadline: 5 June 2026

Full details are in the post.
Apply now and be part of the team!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED 🌊We are looking for one (1) enthusiastic volunteer to join our upcoming marine mammal boat surveys in ...
15/05/2026

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED 🌊

We are looking for one (1) enthusiastic volunteer to join our upcoming marine mammal boat surveys in Mersing, Johor! This is an exciting opportunity to gain hands-on experience in marine mammal research and conservation while spending time out at sea with the MareCet team and learning more about about our conservation work in one of our key project sites.

Whether you are passionate about marine life, eager to learn field research skills, or simply looking for a meaningful adventure, we’d love to hear from you! Apply now by scanning the QR and filling out the online volunteer application form!

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]

📅 Application deadline: 24 May 2026

Dolphinately fintastic sessions with GEMPAK Mersing! 🐬 🐋Over the last two Sundays, our GEMPAK Mersing kids dove headfirs...
08/05/2026

Dolphinately fintastic sessions with GEMPAK Mersing! 🐬 🐋

Over the last two Sundays, our GEMPAK Mersing kids dove headfirst into the world of marine mammals through a porpoiseful learning experience. From fun challenges identifying the differences between marine mammals and fish (the kids nailed it!), to getting up close with skulls and learning about the diets of different dolphin species found in Malaysia. The kids also explored MareCet’s children’s activity book, “Fintastic Marine Mammals and Where to Find Them?”, uncovering fun facts along the way. They learned to identify dolphin sexes and discovered just how intelligent these animals are, from their unique sleeping behaviours to the ways they adapt to survive in the wild. Through interactive role play and activities, they stepped into the lives of these animals, even imagining what it is like to feed cooperatively in the wild.

Beyond the fun, the sessions sparked meaningful conversations about why marine mammals matter and the threats they face today. The kids reflected on simple everyday actions they can take, like reducing plastic use, bringing usable bags, and taking responsibility in protecting the ocean around them. The sessions wrapped up with creativity in full swing, as they designed their own dolphins and shared stories about them. What a whalesome experience!

GEMPAK Mersing is more than just learning, it also aims to nurture the next generation of ocean stewards, empowering these young minds to become guardians of marine life and the ecosystems.

Thank you to the Mohammad bin Zayed Conservation Fund Species Conservation Fund and Mubadala for investing in a future where local youth are at the heart of the marine conservation.

Module 1 of the Love Our Lautan journey is officially complete 🌊✨Students have challenged themselves through interactive...
07/05/2026

Module 1 of the Love Our Lautan journey is officially complete 🌊✨

Students have challenged themselves through interactive quiz activities on Wayground and also expressed their creativity through physical artworks, testing and illustrating their understanding of ocean conservation and marine life. We are happy to know that all the students enjoyed the modules, as much as we enjoyed creating them.

Our students have explored, created, and expressed their love for the ocean through powerful artworks that reflect awareness, creativity, and care for our marine world.

We’re proud to feature selected artworks from this module! Each piece telling its own story of sea creatures and amazing facts about them. All of the artworks submitted were beautiful and unique; we had trouble picking just 10!

This is just the beginning. 💙 Stay tuned as we dive deeper into the next module!

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