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.