Islanders in Central Sulawesi Cultivating Coral Reefs from Coconut Shells

TheIndonesia.id - Residents of Kabalutan Island in the Togean Islands National Park area, Tojo Una-una (Touna) Regency, Central Sulawesi, cultivate coral reefs using coconut shells. Cultivation in collaboration with the Karsa Institute is called the bioreeftek method.

"We will carry it out from April 10 to April 15 2022 and involve local communities, especially dozens of youths in the area," said the Karsa Institute Program Coordinator in Kabalutan Village, Davidson Roto Nono, contacted Saturday, April 16, 2022.

Nono said bioreeftek is a type of artificial coral reef that has been developed by the Marine Research and Observation Center (BPOL) of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries since 2018. The bioreeftek method in the Togean Islands National Park area is the first cultivation carried out in the seas of Central Sulawesi.

"It is called bioreeftek because it uses coconut shells or shells as a substrate or media for attachment of coral planula larvae for the natural development of new coral individuals. This is the first time in Central Sulawesi," he explained.

Nono said, around 600 coconut shells were placed at a depth of between 2 and 3 meters at the bottom of the waters of Kabalutan Island, which has a relatively good coral reef ecosystem with a fairly flat bottom. "We can't specify the size. Since this is the first time, we will check its growth. Usually, it will appear in the 4th to 8th month," he said.

Nono said the use of this method was chosen because of the large number of coconut trees that grow in the coastal area of the Togean Islands. "The construction is simple and easy to make, so this method is relatively efficient and affordable by the community," he said.

Bioreeftek works by recruiting coral planula larvae naturally, this method makes this coral cultivation technology less destructive compared to other conventional methods. After the coral planula larvae attach to the bioreeftech substrate, they can be transferred to another location with a relatively low percentage of coral reef cover for rehabilitation efforts.

"This activity involves the Touna District Fisheries Service, the Marine Research and Observation Center (BPOL), and has the support of CEPF-Birds of Indonesia," he explained.