WWF-Malaysia is implementing a conservation programme in Kudat, in the northern part of Sabah, Malaysia, to support the government initiative to gazette the proposed Tun Mustapha Park (TMP). Once fully gazetted, TMP will be the largest marine protected area in Malaysia (and second largest in Southeast-Asia). It is the first multiple use park in Sabah, based on multiple zoning system and will be managed using a multi-stakeholder collaborative management mechanism. TMP is a priority conservation area for the Sulu Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion Programme of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, as well as an integration site for biodiversity conservation, and fisheries management using the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) and climate change adaptation under the Coral Triangle Initiative for Coral reefs, Fisheries and Food security (CTI-CFF). As part of the Coral Triangle, TMP has a high biodiversity and rich natural resources providing livelihood and food sources for more than 80,000 people within and outside of its boundary. However, the rich biodiversity and these natural resources are under threat from habitat loss due to destructive fishing methods (including fishing using bomb and cyanide poison), and overfishing due to over-capacity and non-selective fishing gears.
The project proposed below is focusing on replication of this work on three new demonstration sites, at Tigabu (Kudat), Balambangan (Kudat) and Taritipan (Kota Marudu).

Specifically, the objectives are:
i) to build capacity and empower local communities and stakeholders to conduct patrolling and collaborative enforcement,
ii) to promote environmental stewardship,
iii) to develop conservation enterprise linked to resource management, and
iv) to build capacity for Implementation of Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM).

The specific outcomes are:
1. By June 2016, TMP is effectively protected through regular patrols (HWW 12days/month, Enforcement agencies -2 days/month) with a proper patrolling record set up jointly with the community and enforcement agencies and the reef status at all 4 demonstration sites improve from fair to good condition.
2. By 2016, at least five local associations and community groups are conducting conservation activities and support the gazettment of TMP.
3. By 2016, 50 community members from all 5 demonstration sites participate in livelihood programme that contribute to conservation.
4. By 2020, fisheries in TMP is managed based on the ecosystem approach.
5. By 2016, assessment tool is developed to assess the implementation of EAFM in TMP.

Description of Project Activities
This project will have four major objectives:
1. To build capacity and empower local communities and stakeholders to conduct patrolling and collaborative enforcement
2. To promote environmental stewardship
3. To develop conservation enterprise linked to resource management
4. To build capacity for Implementation of Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM)