Coral Plantations

Regards from
IB. AGUNG PARTHA with Seawalker investment in Semawang Trough, Sanur Beach, can lift up the area potential, and also as a pioneer activity whose character is conservation. We intentionally choose an ideally relative place such as sandy area, weak current and safe from beach activities. We started to make new object corresponded to our need and ability, then made it as an alternative choice to complete and enrich the visit object for Seawalker lover.

On the first stage of artificial object alternative making in Semawang Trough, we were supported by friends from fisher group in Semawang.

They provided some types of coral germ that can live and adapt well in Sanur beach.

Thus, those germs we planted in diving area, monitored and nursed appropriately so that they could grow well.

ARTIFICIAL CORAL

After the coral germ grew healthy, we moved them to diving area by transplanting it to coral stone, which commonly is called Batu Tombong by fishermen. We have performed this activity routinely for three years. You can see and compare the result.



Along the process of coral maintenance, from the seeding until transplantation process in batu tombong, we got another idea, that was  to try to transplant it to pyramid-shape structure, whose basic material is cement.

Before and After 2 Years

This system has double functions, that are:

1. As current resistor, and;
2. Place of transplantation of coral germ.

We have tried the development of artificial coral in pyramid structure for two years, and the results are displayed in the picture.

On 2007, now we try reef ball structure as the development of artificial coral. The basic material of this structure is cement, its shape is like a half-cut ball and is holed routinely, and then it is put downward so it has hollow space in its inner side. It is not only functioning as the place of coral seed planting, but also as the shelter place for fishes.



CLOSING

On the first stage of coral reef planting to form Artificial Object Alternative area in Semawang trough, we just involved limited group. However, now, cooperation has been expanded to many people because type of this conservation cannot be perfomed by just one people, single effort or single institutional. It needs synergy with many related parties directly or indirectly.
For that, we have made cooperation with City Government of Denpasar, Sanur society and tourists especially the lover of Seawalker attraction. We deeply hope that Artificial Object Alternative area in Semawang trough can be expanded every year and enjoyed by the entire community. It should be noted that this Semawang Trough has gotten special attention from the circle of closed-countries' consuls in Bali.

For that, we have made cooperation with City Government of Denpasar, Sanur society and tourists especially the lover of Seawalker attraction. We deeply hope that Artificial Object Alternative area in Semawang trough can be expanded every year and enjoyed by the entire community. It should be noted that this Semawang Trough has gotten special attention from the circle of closed-countries' consuls in Bali.



Several consuls have opportunity to plant coral in some structures and those coral are given names according to the name of each consul. Besides that, there is a coral whose name is similar to the one belong to ex culture and tourism minister of Indonesia, I Gede Ardika, and several elite officials of City Government in Denpasar. Artificial Object Alternative area in Sanur Beach also becomes the learning media for journalists in Bali, with the coordination of Sea Journalist Group.

They hold the admonition of Indonesian Proclamation moments by raising the Red-and-White flag and celebrate the turn of the year under the sea. These journalists also have hold undersea clothing festival that was a part of Sanur Village Festival 2006 activities. Meanwhile on the implementation of Sanur Village Festival 2007, last August, we cooperated with Telkomsel Indonesia, to plant coral reef for five days continuously.

Work partners and employees of Telkomsel, representative of Denpasar City Government, member of Sanur society, and tourists who enjoy Seawalker attraction followed this activity. We hope, the efforts of making and developing Artificial Object Alternative, that are artificial coral reef cultivation, can be spread out to other areas, along the coastal areas in Bali. May it happen that this Artificial Object Alternative pattern can be one of the efforts to prevent the damage resulted from tourism activities.

The existence of this Artificial Object Alternative sea park, of course, can be a choice to decrease visiting activity to natural objects so their destination preservations are still continued. Because the naturally reform of coral reef needs quite a long time period while in Artificial Object Alternative area the damage caused by visitor intentionally can be fixed directly.

In the end, we should write this African proverb

“IF YOU WANT TO RUN FASTER, DO IT ALONE,
BUT IF YOU WANT TO WALK FURTHER, DO IT TOGETHER”.