ID :
398836
Tue, 03/01/2016 - 17:15
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Coral Transplantation Carried Out at Tikus Island

By Otniel Tamindael Jakarta, March 1 (Antara) - The process of transplantation of coral reefs in Tikus (Rat) 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. Tikus island, a popular tourist destination that can be reached by an hour ride on a local fishing boat, is home to a small community of local fishermen, and a plethora of colorful fish. In this island, visitors with snorkeling gear will be able to enjoy hours of underwater exploration around the island as they observe the diversity of aquatic life present there. Therefore, the alumni of the Nusantara Youth Ship program, supported by a number of activist groups in the province of Bengkulu, have pioneered the coral reefs transplantation activities. Ayub Sugara, the chairman of coral reefs transplantation activities, remarked in Bengkulu on Monday that the alumni of the Nusantara Youth Ship carried out coral reefs' transplantation on Sunday in the presence of Bengkulu Deputy Mayor Patriana Sosialinda, representatives of Indonesian Navy and a number of local government officials. Sugara noted that under the theme, "Find My Coral," coral reef transplantation has been organized thrice, including in 2015 in conjunction with Earth Day, and on independence day in August. "The coral reefs transplantation this time was pioneered by the alumni of the Nusantara Youth Ship program from different regions across the country," he remarked. According to him, the Nusantara Youth Ship is a youth development program by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in collaboration with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and the Navy. The activity is aimed at inspiring the youth to love their country, improve national awareness and nationalism, encouraging and motivating them to go back to the sea, develop an entrepreneurial spirit and maritime industries, as well as increasing the sense of fraternity and cooperation among the youth. Sugara stated that the coral reefs transplantation will continue to maintain the underwater ecosystem at Tikus island. The existence of 200 hectares of coral reefs around Tikus Island is very vital for the continuation of life in the aquatic ecosystem of the island. The deputy mayor of Bengkulu, Patriana Sosialinda, highly appreciated the coral reefs transplantation activities, undertaken by a group of young men to rescue the Tikus Island from disappearing. "Without being asked by the government, the youth are willing to take out time to sunbathe at sea and fix the underwater ecosystem of Tikus Island," she said. She expressed the hope that in the future, more and more youth of Bengkulu will be motivated to preserve the Tikus Island as a tourist destination in Bengkulu. Commemorating the Earth Day in April 2015, several students and environmental activist of the Youth Care Forum from Bengkulu had undertaken the coral reef rehabilitation program at Tikus island. "We will carry out coral reef transplantation to rehabilitate the reefs in the island," Fermi Vandalis, the coordinator of the forum, had then said in Bengkulu. He had explained that coral reef transplantation at that time was carried out by several divers from Rafflesia Bengkulu Diving Club (RBDC). According to Fermi, coral reefs were the main focus of the environmental activists commemorating Earth Day 2015. He explained that Tikus Island, with a land area of 0.8 hectares, should be conserved as it serves several strategic functions. "Tikus Island is the last fortress that protects Bengkulu from the tsunami disaster," Fermi pointed out. In addition, the island, which is sustained by 200 hectares of coral reefs, provides shelter to fishermen during bad weather and serves as a habitat for marine biota. Coordinator of RBDC Edy Saputra remarked that coral reef transplantation helps to accelerate the regeneration of damaged coral reefs. Data obtained by the RBDC revealed that 40 percent of Tikus Islands coral reefs were damaged in 2013 due to the use of environmentally unfriendly fishing equipment and other exploitation activities. Therefore, the Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi) has urged the Bengkulu provincial government to stop any form of exploitation in Tikus Island in order to save the island from disappearing. Advocacy Manager of Walhi Bengkulu, Sony Taurus has said the exploitation includes coal transshipment activity around the island. A number of environmental activists had protested against this and the activity was halted by the regional government. Kusnadi, a lighthouse officer on Tikus Island, stated that continuous abrasion could possibly make the island disappear in 15 years. "Abrasion on its western coast has reduced the Tikus Island from its original size of 2 hectares to 0.8 hectare," Kusnadi said, adding that abrasion has also damaged a number of facilities built by the communication ministry. ***1***

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