Garmin Malaysia makes an effort to clean up the abandoned nets on the ocean floor

Garmin Malaysia is celebrating the success of its partnership with Reef Check Malaysia, which worked to remove ghost nets from Malaysian waters with the help of local communities. Running from March to September 2024, the initiative surpassed its goal by removing 755 kilograms of ghost nets, far exceeding the initial target of 100 kilograms.

For The Environment

Garmin Malaysia committed RM100 for every kilogram of ghost nets collected, aiming to raise RM10,000 for marine conservation. The initiative saw active involvement from local communities on islands like Pulau Besar, Pulau Aur, and Pulau Sibu, all of which played a key role in fostering a shared responsibility for protecting the oceans.

Sheena Sim, Marketing Lead for Garmin Malaysia, emphasized that the company’s commitment to sustainability aligns perfectly with Reef Check Malaysia’s mission to protect coral reefs and promote responsible environmental practices. Through this collaboration, Garmin aims to inspire others to engage in long-term conservation efforts.

Teaching Valuable Skills

In addition to ghost net removal, the partnership helped train 10 local islanders in underwater clean-ups, empowering them to take an active role in marine conservation. This initiative also expanded Reef Check Malaysia’s capacity, allowing them to tackle more marine conservation issues, not just ghost nets.

Garmin Malaysia also took its sustainability efforts further by upcycling the collected ghost nets into functional products. In collaboration with The Sea Monkey Project, a local social enterprise, the company created a sleek clutch bag designed to pair with Garmin’s Descent G1 Solar – Ocean Edition, a dive-focused wearable made from recycled ocean-bound plastic.