Delegation gains insights into reef protection strategies

CAIRNS: The Sarawak delegation, led by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, visited the iconic Great Barrier Reef as part of their ongoing benchmarking visit on Friday (Aug 9).

The visit aimed to study marine conservation efforts and the integration of tourism with environmental preservation.

The delegation gained insights into reef protection strategies briefed by local marine biologists.

This was followed by a visit to Marineland Melanesia Croc Park, renowned for housing the world’s largest captive crocodiles, where they were briefed on crocodile conservation by owner Toody.

“The Great Barrier Reef and Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures offer exemplary models of conservation and sustainable tourism, providing valuable lessons for Sarawak’s own initiatives,” said Awang Tengah.

The day concluded with a meeting at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, where the delegation engaged with the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) Queensland.

Discussions centred on innovative crocodile management practices and retail opportunities for crocodile products.

The benchmarking visit underscores Sarawak’s commitment to adopting global best practices in natural resource management and sustainable development.