Project description

Also known as MERC and located in Malohom Bay of Gaya Island is a multi-purpose research center run by a team of marine biologists. It represents the nerve center of Echo Resorts' environmental conservation projects to protect and restore the main 3 marine ecosystems of Malohom Bay: coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass beds and the critical role they play in sustaining life both on land and in the water.

The main mission of the Research Center is to facilitate the reproduction and reintroduction of endangered species which it accomplishes through 3 different programs:

a) The giant clam repopulation program, which in addition to returning this species to the sea, helps to improve the conditions of the seabed

b) The coral restoration program to improve the conditions of the coral reefs and encourage the growth of its fish population.

c) The environmental education program to make every visitor aware of the importance of caring for and protecting fragile marine ecosystems, through modern educational methods, awarded by the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism.

MERC has always promoted the direct involvement of visitors in conservation work and offers them two interesting initiatives:

- Adopt a coral and receive periodic online updates on its progress

- Become a marine biologist for a day to learn about their painstaking research and conservation work to reproduce giant clams and reintroduce them to coral reefs.