Wealth Of Marine Life At Gulf Of Tomini

Jakarta Diary By Azeman Ariffin Bernama's correspondent in Jakarta Azeman Ariffin shares his take on Indonesia. PALU (Sulawesi, Indonesia), Sept 25 (Bernama) -- The Gulf of Tomini is perhaps one of Indonesia’s best spot for marine tourism. It is the largest gulf in Indonesia, bounded by three provinces in Sulawesi and located along the equator. It is home to a number of endemic species of fish, such as the yellowfin tuna and is the heart of the world’s coral triangle, making it a paradise for divers. Those who do not dive also have ample opportunity to witness this marvel by renting a boat with a transparent bottom. Its waters are so clear that one could easily see the marine life beneath from the surface. The Togian Islands sit near the centre of the gulf, with breathtakingly white sands and 25 diving platforms. The Indonesian Republic’s Ministry of Communications and Informatics’ Directorate of International Information Service recently brought me to the Gulf of Tomini to witness the beauty of the gulf as well as the annual Sail Tomini event. GETTING THERE Those intending a trip to the gulf will have to board a plane from any capital city that has flights to Palu in Central Sulawesi. From the capital of Central Sulawesi, travelers can engage land transportation to Parigi Moutong, which would take around two hours. Parigi Moutong is one of the coastal areas along the Gulf of Tomini. From there, visitors can hire a water transportation service to bring them to the smaller islands in the middle of the gulf. TOMINI’S MARINE LIFE The Gulf of Tomini is the heart of the world’s Coral Triangle and is home to the richest of marine biodiversity. Local authorities say that thousands of fish species reside within the area such as the “cakalang”, “tembang” and “lemuru”. In fact, it is believed that several species of fish swim up to the Gulf of Tomini to spawn. The fry would remain in the gulf until it is old enough to make its way back into the ocean. That is why the gulf is a valuable asset to Indonesia and should be preserved for future generations. SAIL TOMINI 2015 To attract more visitors to the Gulf of Tomini, the Indonesian government has introduced an annual event called Sail Tomini. This year’s theme is called "Mutiara Khatulistiwa untuk Kehidupan Masa Depan” (The Jewel of Equator for the Future). President Joko Widodo when launching Sail Tomini 2015 focused on two points for the betterment of the event in the years to come. The first was to improve on the promotion of the Gulf of Tomini abroad and the second was to prepare for the event a year earlier. "International marketing is an essential step in getting more foreign tourists to visit. Sail Tomini, meanwhile, needs to be planned a year earlier. This means that the planning for next year’s Sail Tomini must begin now." Sail Tomini 2015 was launched at the Bulihutuo Beach and attended by thousands, including foreign diplomats. Among the interesting events that took place was the sailing pass of tens of Indonesia’s navy ships and several warships from other countries, including Malaysia. There are also cultural performances and demonstrations by paratroopers. The Coordinating Minister of Human Development and Culture, Puan Maharani in her speech said that the government was committed at protecting the gulf's ecosystem, while at the same time increasing the development along the coastal areas for the benefit of the locals. -- BERNAMA