Cleaning up Bunaken Beaches and Coral Reef

Swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving in Bunaken National Park are a fun marine recreational activity. We can swim over or dive through colorful sea corals and at the same time see various kinds of ornamental fish.

Bunaken is a famous destination for marine tourism. This marine national park is located near Manado city of North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. The Bunaken marine park is always full with travellers from around the world. Bunaken sea park is exposed to harmful marine pollutants produced by city dwellers of Manado. Wastes from the city drift to the sea park and cover many of its live corals.

Bunaken National Park

City authority must take serious actions to prevent more destruction of the corals. So far, the bombing practices of the fish have been banned for years but the amount of waste from the city flowing out to the sea has not been reduced. It takes tens of years to restore the condition of coral reefs. Citizens of Manado and scuba divers can cooperate to protect the Bunaken sea park. Citizens should demand the municipality authority to install incinerators for burning the waste and produce electricity from it. In addition, the citizens must regularly do the cleaning up activites along the coastal areas of Manado and Minahasa regions and the nearby islands of Siladen, Bunaken, Mantehage, Nain and Manado Tua.

The National Marine Park of Bunaken near Manado city of North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia

Scuba divers can also be asked to participate in the cleaning up programs of underwater Bunaken coral reefs for lifting up plastic bags, metals and other waste materials that cover the corals.

Through this kind of cooperations among the government, citizens, and scuba diver tourists, we hope that soon we will be able to create healthier environment both above and under water. Eco-tourism which has become the goal of todays modern tourism industry will effectively be implemented in Minahasa region. - by Charles Roring

Also read: 

• Wildlife Trip in Tangkoko and Minahasa Highland
• Birding in Sonder's Forest and Farmland
• Birding and Butterfly watching from Manado city
• Minahasa Highland Tour: Hiking, Birding and Sightseeing

Scuba diving industry and the value of coral reef

Scuba diving and coral reef are two terms that always have close relation. Most of the dive centers are located near coral reef. We can see them in Sinai of Egypt, Great Barrier Reef of Australia, Bali and Lombok islands, Raja Ampat and Cendrawasih Bay of Indonesia and many marine tourist destinations around the world.

Scuba Divers in Raja Ampat

Although coral reef is important for marine tourism, its value is more. It plays a very important role in marine ecosystem. Coral reefs are home to millions of fish. They provide food for both the marine animal and human being. They do the photosynthesis thus absorbing carbon dioxide. Coral reef, with its abundant marine life is the tropical rainforest of the sea. So, it is similar to Amazon or other rainforest regions in Africa or Indonesia.

Therefore, the development of marine tourism must not jeopardize the existence of coral reef along the coastal region and its supported environment such as mangrove forest. Beach hotels must treat their wastes before discharging them. Fishermen, most importantly the modern ones, must be trained to practice sustainable fishing techniques. The use of poison, explosive and bottom net has to be banned by the government.

Coral Reef in Raja Ampat

Every year, the number of scuba divers grows well. This is seen as market opportunities by owners of beach hotels and dive centers. Running a dive center needs expensive investment. Dive operators tend to invite as many divers as possible to reach their selling target. It is important for the marine park management board to limit the number of dives in certain coral reef that has been saturated. This is needed to minimize unnecessary pressures on marine ecosystem so that it can thrive and develop well.

As the source of food for human being, coral reef is important not only for the divers but also for the fishermen. When more diving centers are opened in certain location of coral reef region, they will have to respect the traditional fishing communities living in the region. Efforts on marine conservation should provide rooms for fishermen to continue fishing sustainably. It means that not all the area of the coral reef will be categorized as "No Take Zone" area.

If properly and professionally managed, scuba diving industry can get maximum benefit from the existence of coral reef without jeopardizing the interest of local fishing communities. by Charles Roring in Manokwari of West Papua - Indonesia

Also read: 

• Snorkeling and Coral Reef Preservation