NATIONAL MARINE WATER QUALITY MONITORING
Malaysia is endowed with many islands, coastal areas and the sea whose environment is rich in aquatic resources. Marine water quality plays an important role in the conservation of these natural resources. The Department of Environment started this monitoring program in 1978 for Peninsular Malaysia. In 1985, the program was further expanded in the states of Sabah and Sarawak and followed by the Islands Monitoring Program in 1998.
To realize a more systematic and comprehensive Environmental Monitoring Program, the Government of Malaysia and Scieno TW Sdn Bhd Specialist Company signed a concession on 5 July 2017 for the implementation of the Environmental Monitoring Program which also covers water, marine and air components nationwide. Development in coastal and island areas has a significant impact on this sensitive environment. Accordingly, to ensure that this environment is maintained and protected, this database was created to accurately monitor the quality of the marine environment.
To date, there are 273 manual marine water quality monitoring stations in coastal and estuarine areas throughout Malaysia and 95 stations in island areas. These islands are classified into four categories: development islands, resort islands, marine park islands and protected islands.
In addition, there are 10 automatic marine water quality monitoring stations located at the following stations:
No. Station | State | Location | Full Location | LONGITUDE | LATITUDE | Structure |
CM01K | Kedah | Pulau Langkawi,Kedah | JLM Jeti,Pulau Langkawi,Kedah | 99.79086 | 6.294944 | Jeti |
CM02M | Melaka | Pulau Undan, Melaka | Jeti Jabatan Laut Malaysia Pulau Undan, Melaka | 102.334742 | 2.047799 | Jeti |
CM03N | Negeri Sembilan | Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan | JLM Navigation Beacon, Arang Arang | 101.788525 | 2.513106 | Beacon |
CM04J | Johor | Tanjung Piai, Johor | JLM Navigation Beacon Tanjung Piai | 103.509578 | 1.260289 | Beacon |
CM05J | Johor | Tanjung Pengelih, Johor | Jeti Jabatan Laut Malaysia Tanjung Pengelih | 104.08765 | 1.369875 | Jeti |
CM10S | W. P. Labuan | W. P. Labuan | Jeti Dermaga Merdeka (JLM) | 115.240514 | 5.276614 | Jeti |
CM11Q | Sarawak | Santubong, Sarawak | Jeti Pejabat Perikanan Wilayah 1, Santubong | 110.328208 | 1.716522 | Jeti |
CM12A | Perak | Pulau Mentagor, Perak Marina Pulau Mentagor, Lumut, Perak | 100.536925 | 4.224834 | Jeti | |
CM13T | Terengganu | Pulau Kapas, Terengganu | Jeti Pulau Kapas, Marang, Terengganu | 103.261203 | 5.217085 | Jeti |
CM14S | Sabah | Teluk Sepanggar, Sabah | Jeti Sabah Port, Teluk Sepanggar, Sabah | 116.116331 | 6.068786 | Jeti |
This monitoring program involves in-situ measurement of water quality parameters namely pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, salinity, turbidity and tar balls, and analysis of parameters in the laboratory are Escherichia coli, oil and grease, total suspended solids, arsenic, cadmium, chromium , copper, lead and mercury. The sampling frequency performed is
as many as six times a year. These monitoring activities provide important information not only on the status of marine water quality but also assist in the management of recreational areas as well as marine ecosystems.