Indonesia: A New Hope for Seribu Island’s Reefs

Provided by Silvianita Timotius, Idris, Mikael Prastowo, and Estradivari, The Indonesian Coral Reef Foundation (Yayasan TERANGI)

Photo credit: Kiki Anggraini

Pulau Seribu is a group of 105 islands off of Jakarta, Indonesia and is one of the few coral reef ecosystems that lie in close proximity to a capital city. Jakarta is home to more than 8.5 million people and is currently the 12th largest city in the world. The District Administration of Seribu Islands manages 80 percent the archipelago, while the remaining 20 percent falls within the Seribu Islands Marine National Park. The ecosystem is includes 193 coral species,¹ 174 reef fish species, and important hawksbill turtle nesting sites. Coral reefs, through fishing, tourism, and aquaculture, play a vital role in the region’s economy.

While proximity to the capital city brings economic benefits to the islands, it can also create ecological problems. Since the 1970s this valuable ecosystem has been threatened by destructive fishing methods such as blast and poison fishing and trawling,² as well as pollution from solid waste, heavy metal, oil, and sediment. In addition, bleaching events in 1983 and 1998 resulted in 50 to 90 percent coral mortality.³

In response to these impacts, in 2002 the District Administration, Seribu Islands Marine Park, community members, and NGOs started developing management measures to assist reef recovery. Measures included implementing coral transplantation programs, installing fish aggregation devices to move fishing pressure from the reefs,⁴ and encouraging non-destructive fishing techniques. Indirect measures involved efforts to create alternative livelihoods for the community through substitute aquacultures, community-based ecotourism, and increased environmental education and awareness. Community stakeholder associations were introduced to represent key groups such as eco-tourism operators, ornamental fish harvesters, aquaculture, and the youth science club.

Photo credit: TERANGI

Since 2002, there have been signs of reef recovery. Based on surveys carried out by the Indonesian Coral Reef Foundation (TERANGI) in 2007, average coral cover reached up to 30 percent⁵, which is an improvement over a 1995 survey showing 17 percent cover.⁶ In addition, ornamental fish species that had previously disappeared before 2000 due to overharvesting were observed on the reef. These management measures, implemented over the last nine years, encourage optimism for threatened reefs worldwide.

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