What is it that makes a great muck site so good? Why is it divers still rave about Lembeh or Seraya or Mabul after all these years? To most people the answer is obvious – there are plenty of muck critters to be found at these locations. But this explanation simply begs another question; why are there so many muck critters at muck sites? One common link between these sites is that they often have exposed areas of open sand or rubble, places that demand a very different set of survival strategies to those of the coral reef. And so the animals that have evolved the camouflage or behavioural traits to survive in these areas are the ones we have labelled as ‘critters’.
There is another common link between many muck areas – man. Lots of muck sites throughout SE Asia are found just in front of a village, beneath a jetty or in a harbour. Beneath the surface, man’s influence is very obvious in these locations. Rubbish and debris accumulate on the bottom making perfect hiding places for juveniles and critters – in other words, a perfect muck site.
However, man may also have had a less obvious effect on these sites. Pretty much every jetty in the world will have a fisherman or two, normally a child with a handline in SE Asia. Fishing like this will will have an slow but steady impact on populations of predators such as groupers and trevallies, species that are not normally seen in huge numbers at prime muck sites. And the lack of predatory fish may allow other, more ‘unusual’ species, to thrive.
This train of thought was sparked during my last visit to Mabul in Sabah. The presence of the resorts on the island has reduced the level of intensive fishing in the area. And the result? Mabul now has a huge resident school of jacks that live not far from the new water bungalows. Surrounded by thousands of swirling fish got me thinking – how much of an effect will such a large population of predators have on the muck life? And this thought led to another. Divers are generally a conservation-minded bunch and the presence of diving resorts normally has a positive effect on reducing detrimental and intensive fishing methods. Populations of predators that are targeted by fishermen normally go up as a result. What will happen to the muck critters when this happens? Will populations remain the same, improve or steadily get eaten?
So, a question for you. I think it is not completely out of this world to suggest that when first dived, some muck sites are pretty marginal and often heavily impacted by man in many ways. The presence of diving tourists may well turn these sites around – will their recovery see the demise of the muck critters that brought the divers flocking in the first place? What do you think? Have you seen a change in your favourite muck site in recent years? For better or worse?
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