SeaKeepers Asia Award Event 2019

Thank you to all who made the Asia Award Event a spectacular event! The event organized by the Asian arm of The International SeaKeepers Society held it’s fourth annual Asia Awards Dinner at ONE°15 Marina on Friday, April 12th. The night was hosted by Dinner Chairs Julian and Sandra Chang, the theme for this year’s dinner was “Shifting into Higher Gear.” One of the evening’s highlights was the announcement of this year’s award winners. The recipient of the first-ever, SeaKeeper of Malaysia Award, was presented to Dr. Achier Chung, a well-known non-government appointed marine biologist. The SeaKeepers Asia Achievement Award was presented to The Gili Shark Conservation Project – a grassroots conservation project on the Gili Islands in Indonesia.

Dr. Achier Chung currently runs the only privately managed conservation area in Sabah – Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA) which is gazetted as a Category II Conservation Area under The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Protected Area Management Category. Her collaborative efforts have reduced cases of encroachment by fishermen into protected areas and no-take zones.

The Gili Shark Conservation Project was recognized for their direct conservation management to improve the protection of sharks found around the Gili Islands, and to create a legacy of conservation around the islands. The unique program of the Gili Shark Conservation Project allows people from all over the world to experience and learn about sharks first hand while making a real difference with their data collection efforts.

The evening was highlighted by the support received from Program Partners. Friends of SeaKeepers Appreciation Awards were presented to the Tropical Marine Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore; Our Singapore Reefs; Laguna Redang Island Resort and Oliver and Gael Burlot in acknowledgment and with thanks.