In-Depth

Fish banned in China eaten in alarming quantities in Semporna

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Food tourists from China are flocking to Semporna to eat the Humphead Wrasse – valued but banned in China – and the consumption rate is concerning conservationists.

“SIS! BERAPA?” a fish seller shouts out to marine biologist Dr Achier Chung. “Sister! How much are you offering?” He lifts a fish to the water surface. In his palm, the fish flaps its pectoral fin.

Chung is at Semporna’s live seafood market, where most seafood is sold live, without price tags or weighing scales. Instead, sellers and buyers – largely tourists – negotiate through loud bargaining, hand gestures, and phone calculators.

(Feature image: This live Humphead Wrasse is being offered for sale in a noisy market where bargaining is part of the experience. |  Photo by Lee Kwai Han)

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In-Depth

US Rare Earth Pacts Raise Defence and Pollution Questions

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In the face of US pressure on strategic minerals, rare earth processor Lynas and upcoming rare earth supplier Kelantan pursue plans in the shadow of military use and environmental impacts.

MARCH WAS a busy month for Lynas Rare Earths with a slew of announcements. But the one that caught the eye – and wrath – of Malaysian NGOs was the signing of a letter of intent with the US’ Department of War.

The deal was to supply rare earth products “to support US national security and supply chain resilience objectives”.

(Feature image: As Malaysia starts mining rare earths, pollution risks from in-situ leaching extraction are a concern in groundwater-dependent Kelantan. |  Image by Mohd Naeem Mohd Nor)

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Remarks

Why Climate-Friendly Loans Need Legal Backing

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Contracts are not mere commercial transactions but are governance tools that safeguard environmental integrity and protect institutions from compliance risk, writes advocate & solicitor and ESG legal practitioner, Tan Poh Yee.

BANK LOAN decisions are not just financial transactions: they carry environmental consequences, influencing whether projects align with sustainability goals. Malaysia’s Paris Agreement 2015 pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions is supported by domestic laws and regulations that ensure financing decisions contribute to those goals.

(Feature pic: CCPT principles and categories help banks ensure loans meet climate goals for projects across sectors from agriculture to steel.  | Image by YH Law)

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In-Depth

Rising Flaring at Bintulu Casts Shadow over Malaysia’s LNG Plans

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Rising Flaring at Bintulu Casts Shadow over Malaysia’s LNG Plans

Petronas is pushing ahead with a global expansion strategy despite gas supply shocks caused by the war on Iran, as well as impacts on the climate and community health.

Writer: Wil Crisp  |  Editor: SL Wong
Data visualisation: Irma Garnesia and Louis Lugas

A collaboration between Macaranga Media and Point Source

Published: 23 April, 2026

Photo: In the last 4 years, emissions from Malaysia’s largest LNG plant have been increasing.

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Remarks

When “Getting Close to Nature” Is a Business

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Glamping has come to a Port Dickson forest, giving Brian Khow, a nature-lover concerned with environmental justice, pause to reflect on such enterprises.

I WAS SHOCKED by the recent development in a forest reserve located along the border of Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, and Melaka. A private recreation facility has in the last few months emerged next to a beach in that forest.

Made up of luxury tents, campsites, and a café, this glamping operation now occupies a section of the beach, with fenced boundaries and facilities reserved for paying patrons.

(Feature pic: What does comfort in tents mean for our relationship with nature? | image by Sharon Chin)

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Remarks

To Rehabilitate Rivers, Community Action Matters More than Money

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Money actually does not solve problems in river rehabilitation. Instead, continuity, consistency and persistence matter, writes ecosystem restoration activist Kennedy Michael.

RIVER degradation is a persistent challenge in rapidly urbanising Malaysia. Governance fragmentation, public disengagement, and infrastructural bias keep undermining ecosystem health. But long-term, community-driven, volunteer-led river ecosystem restoration and sustainability education provide a solution.

For over 390 consecutive weeks since 2018, the Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur, communities have looked after the 5km stretch of Klang River in their area.

(Feature pic:  Community power matters more than money in river rehabilitation | ART!)

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Remarks

Only RM13 per Kilogram? Far From the Real Cost of Killing Marlins

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Making catch and release mandatory in fishing competitions is long overdue as iconic apex fish keep getting targeted, writes marine biologist Dr Nicolas Pilcher.

LAST YEAR, a 230kg Black Marlin—majestic, rare, and irreplaceable—was landed and sold for RM3,000 during the 2025 Labuan International Sea Challenge, according to the Daily Express. That’s just RM13 per kilogram. Less than the price of squid. 

For marine conservationists, this wasn’t a win—it was a black day for Malaysia’s efforts to protect the oceans.

(Feature pic:  Saltwater big game fishing is coming under scrutiny for unsustainable practices | Canva)

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Remarks

Islanders Squeezed Out by Mainland Boatmen

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Redang Island is groaning under the weight of day-trippers and both nature and locals are suffering, warns marine advocate Julian Hyde.

IN JUNE, Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) was one of several organisations that raised concerns about a video taken of Teluk Dalam, Redang Island, with so many boats lined up along the beach that it was scarcely possible to move between them.

The community marine conservation group that we support on Redang (Redang Marine Conservation Group (RMCG) led local efforts to raise awareness of this growing problem.

(Feature pic: Some days, the Teluk Dalam beach is neck-deep in day-tripping boats, 90% of which are from the main land | Photo by imanredang)

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Remarks

Save the Endangered Parrots at Tanjung Aru

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Tanjung Aru’s beloved rare parrots must not be relocated, say birdwatchers Amar-Singh HSS and Ron Pudin.

TANJUNG ARU Beach in Sabah is an idyllic beach with tall old Casuarina trees, lovely sand and some of the most magnificent sunsets in the world. Located on the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu its proximity to the city makes Tanjung Aru Beach a great place to bring the family and have a peaceful day out. Many tourists visit the site daily.

Equally important is that Tanjung Aru Beach is home to an endangered parrot, the Blue-naped Parrot (Tanygnathus lucionensis). Blue-naped Parrots are medium sized parrots with green plumage, blue on the nape and mid-crown, broad orange-buff edging on wings and yellow on the undersurface of the tail.

(Feature image: Little is known about the global  population of the Blue-naped Parrot but the number of locations it is found is declining  |  Photo: Amar-Singh HSS)

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Announcement

Change is coming to Macaranga

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After 6 years, we are reviewing what we’ve done and reflecting on how better Macaranga can serve you, our readers. Check out this video where co-founders Siew Lyn and Yao Hua look back at what we have achieved and how thankful we are for the support you have given us.

We will still be active on our socials, so look out for our call to give your feedback. If you can spare some time, please sign up for our focused group discussions which will be held over the next few months.

You can always email us too. And of course read (or re-read) all our stories here!

[Feature image: Sunda Shelves]

A Malaysian Environmental Journalism Site