In enhancing coral reef management, identifying the key threats that influence the coral reefs ecosystem needs accurate information on the current knowledge of coral health status and coral communities. This study attempts to update such information by evaluating the data of coral assessment on the reef areas in the southern part of the South China Sea (SCS); the Labuan Marine Park (LMP), Pulau Tioman Marine Park (PTMP), Pulau Kapas Marine Park (PKMP), Pulau Bidong (PB) and Pulau Perhentian Marine Park (PPMP). The Coral Video Transect (CVT) technique was utilised to examine the biotic [live coral (C), algae (ALG) and other invertebrates (OT)] and abiotic [(dead coral (DC), sand, silt and rock (SR)] composition, coral health status and coral communities. The variation of biotic and abiotic components was significantly influenced by ‘Area’ and ‘Tourism Development’, which implied that the reefs were influenced by proximity from the mainland and varying human-induced stressors within the site in the survey area. Lower C composition and high cover of ALG, DC and SR can be associated with the decreasing proximity of the reef ‘Area’ to the mainland and the criteria of ‘Tourism Development’. ‘Areas’ close to the mainland such as PKMP and LMP was mainly dominated by abiotic components. High ALG composition was found in PPMP and some sites in LMP, indicating the high commercial use in the ‘Area’ have induced the algae colonisation. The reefs nearby the mainland and intense human activities consequently resulting in coral health status with some sites rated as ‘poor’ condition. PTMP and PB recorded the highest C composition, suggesting distance from the mainland as a factor to PTMP while low human intervention is an attributable factor to PB. No ‘poor’ sites were found in PTMP and PB, implying that both areas face minimal impact from the local stressors. The coral communities among the areas were dominated by three types of communities; Acropora-Porites-Montipora (LMP), Acropora-Porites (PTMP, PKMP and PPMP) and Acropora-Porites-Fungia (PB), suggesting linkages to the environmental stressor. Conclusively, apart from filling in the information gaps on the current status of the coral reefs, the findings underline the urgent need for systematic Marine Spatial Planning design and adoption to accurately mitigate threats against a more resilient coral reef health in Malaysia.

在加强珊瑚礁管理方面，确定影响珊瑚礁生态系统的主要威胁需要有关珊瑚健康状况和珊瑚群落当前知识的准确信息。本研究试图通过评估南海南部珊瑚礁区域（SCS）的珊瑚评估数据来更新这些信息；纳闽海洋公园 (LMP)、刁曼岛海洋公园 (PTMP)、卡帕斯岛海洋公园 (PKMP)、比东岛 (PB) 和停泊岛海洋公园 (PPMP)。珊瑚视频横断面 (CVT) 技术用于检查生物 [活珊瑚 (C)、藻类 (ALG) 和其他无脊椎动物 (OT)] 和非生物 [(死珊瑚 (DC)、沙子、淤泥和岩石 (SR) ] 组成、珊瑚健康状况和珊瑚群落。生物和非生物成分的变化受到“面积”和“旅游开发”的显着影响，这意味着珊瑚礁受到与大陆的接近以及调查区域内不同的人为压力因素的影响。ALG、DC 和 SR 较低的 C 组成和较高的覆盖率可能与珊瑚礁“区域”与大陆的距离越来越近以及“旅游开发”的标准有关。PKMP 和 LMP 等靠近大陆的“区域”主要以非生物成分为主。在 PPMP 和 LMP 的一些地点发现了高 ALG 成分，表明“区域”的高商业用途已经诱导了藻类定植。大陆附近的珊瑚礁和强烈的人类活动导致珊瑚健康状况不佳，一些地点被评为“较差”状况。PTMP 和 PB 记录了最高的 C 成分，表明距离大陆是 PTMP 的一个因素，而低人为干预是 PB 的一个归因因素。在 PTMP 和 PB 中没有发现“差”站点，这意味着这两个区域受到局部压力源的影响最小。各区珊瑚群落以三类群落为主；Acropora-Porites-Montipora (LMP)、Acropora-Porites（PTMP、PKMP 和 PPMP）和Acropora-Porites-Fungia (PB)，表明与环境压力源的联系。总而言之，除了填补有关珊瑚礁当前状况的信息空白外，调查结果还强调迫切需要系统的海洋空间规划设计和采用，以准确减轻对马来西亚更具弹性的珊瑚礁健康的威胁。