Come join us!

Hi everyone!

My names Sonny and I’m currently a member of staff here on Pompom. I’m lucky enough to be a marine biologist on the island. I came in May 2013 as a Science intern, spent 3 months out here and couldn’t face leaving, so I didn’t. I love my job as being out in the field it varies daily and builds me both as a person and a scientist. On a usual day we get 3 dives in, see awesome marine life and make a real difference to the adundance of 3d habitat. In the turtle season we collect eggs roughly 4 times a week and towards the end of it we release turtles at approximately the same rate.

Since being on the island one of my most memorable experiences occurred as a result of a boat collision with a turtle near the large resort. I had recently just become a member of staff, and most of the long term staff were absent, so I was dropped in at the deep end. Myself and the volunteers came to visit the turtle and ended up taking it back to the camp in a make shift turtle carrying device. Everyone was on hand to either be carrying the injured lady or making a deluxe short term enclosure (including en suite pool). It was amazing to see how all the volunteers banded together to try and help her. The next day we all took a trip to Semporna (you can see this on the video enjoying pizza etc). With help from the WWF I managed to arrange transport with the wildlife department, we shipped her across Malaysia to a turtle rehabilitation center in KK to give her the best possible chance of survival. Green turtles are considered endangered by the IUCN redlist thus each individual is important, here at TRACC we can be proud knowing we always do our best.

In the next two years I’m most excited about the marine protected area(s) we are setting up. Around SE Asia the seas are heavily overfished, whilst dynamite fishing is illegal sadly it is also still very present. With more defined protected areas it will help all stakeholders. These pockets of protected areas will maintain / increase biodiversity, this will please us as we are a conservation center (also provide some good areas to compare degraded and non-degraded sites and recovery rates), this will also please divers and dive shops alike. Surprisingly fishermen will be pleased as the MPA’s will have a brood stock of fish and so increase fish abundance through a spill over effect. Basically it’s all win, and that’s why this is my favorite future project.

I hope after reading my small caption upon TRACC I have shown you that we are a worthwhile and fun organisation. So if you’re prepared to pitch in and make a difference, come along. We’re always to see new enthusiastic faces and share knowledge.