Improving Coral Reef Condition In Indonesia

JAKARTA, Nov 24 (Antara) - Through the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, the government of Indonesia is committed to improving the condition of coral reefs. Coral reefs in Indonesia are said to be the best in the world, and therefore, they should be protected with an unequivocal regulation to prevent them from the damage, caused primarily by human activities, in addition to the effects of climate change. Creating and enforcing systems of marine spatial planning, reduction of plastic bag use, and having active community advocates could create healthier coral reefs that will sustain generations to come. During a workshop on Sebutung Island in South Sulawesi on Tuesday, the head of Makassar Maritime and Fisheries Office for Coastal and Marine Resources Board, Andry Indryasworo Sukmoputro, remarked that various stakeholders including young people need to become agents of change in preventing activities that damage coral reefs. Andry recalled the importance of coral reefs as a refuge for many species of fish and as the first defense against abrasion, besides serving as the lifeblood of coastal communities, especially the fishermen. According to him, one-thirds of coral reefs in many parts of Indonesia has been damaged so that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries has also initiated rehabilitation efforts and the transplantation of the corals. The Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), through the Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Program (COREMAP), had stated that 30.4 percent of Indonesia's coral reefs were damaged and would have an impact on public welfare. A team from LIPI had conducted intensive and repeated observations of coral reefs in eight districts in western Indonesia and seven districts in central and eastern Indonesia. It found that fifty percent of coral reefs in some areas in Sulawesi and Maluku were severely damaged. Among the main factors damaging the coral reefs are fishing activities that use destructive tools and materials, disposal of domestic waste in the sea, and reclamation without considering the environmental impact. Using bombs and poison for fishing is the main reason for the damage of the coral reefs in the Sulawesi-Maluku eco-region, and therefore, a variety of programs to preserve the coral reefs. In addition, the coral reef ecosystem in East Nusa Tenggara is in critical condition due to human activities such as destructive fishing practices using homemade fertilizer bombs and potassium. Until late 2011, around 23.5 percent of East Nusa Tenggara's coral reefs are seriously damage, and 58.8 percent moderately damage, and only 17.6 percent of the province's coral reefs are in good condition. Around 75 percent of the world's coral reefs are being threatened by both the climate change impacts and destructive human activities. If the condition continues, it's projected that 20 years from now, roughly half the reefs globally will experience thermo stress sufficient to induce severe bleaching, and within 50 years, the percentage will increase to more than 95 years. At least one quarter to one third of all marine species inhabit coral reefs, making the coral reefs being the most endangered marine species in the world. The rapid increase in the rate of coral reef destruction in Indonesian waters has prompted the nation's researchers to take steps to restore the coral reef ecosystems. Coral reefs and the magnificent creatures that call them home are in danger of disappearing, and therefore, actions have been taken in Indonesia, including in Bengkulu province, to protect the most biologically rich and economically valuable ecosystem on earth. Different measures to restore the coral reef ecosystems from damage have been adopted, either through the use of technology or by transplanting corals to create artificial reefs. Although, in reality, such practices have been quite successful, the recovery technology takes time and effort, and involves high costs. Therefore, a team from the Research Institute for Climate Change and Sea Observation, the Research and Development of Marine and Fisheries, has developed a new technology called "bioreeftek" for the conservation and rehabilitation of coral reefs using natural ingredients. The coral transplantation technology, termed "bioreeftek", has been developed since 2008, and it is now being implemented in Bengkulu as part of the coral reef conservation program. Abdurrahman Suardi, spokesman of the Nature Lover Student Activist Group of the University of Bengkulu's Faculty of Agriculture, remarked in Bengkulu some time ago that the bioreeftek technology utilized cheap raw materials, which were abundant in Bengkulu province. According to the spokesman, the bioreeftek technology uses raw materials in the form of coconut shells, which are placed around the already existing coral reefs. He explained that the coconut shells function as natural habitats for the coral larvae, and following their growth, are then transplanted back to the coral reef ecosystems. This is an environment-friendly method of coral transplantation that has been implemented in some 38 locations across Indonesia's waters, including in Bengkulu. Suardi noted that that the method was also being applied in the waters of Tikus (Rat) island and the coastal waters from Mukomuko to Kaur districts. The process of transplantation of coral reefs in Tikus Island in Bengkulu will continue to maintain the underwater ecosystem in the region. Situated only 10 km west of Bengkulu city, this small island offers pristine blue waters, white sandy beaches, coral reef, and the feel of a remote getaway that visitors will not want to miss.