Marveling at Nusa Penida's biodiversity

Posted by Umi Haroh on 24th June, 2013

Home to the elusive Mola mola ocean sunfish and other captivating sea dwellers such as manta rays, the Nusa Penida district in Klungkung regency, Bali, consisting of Nusa Penida and smaller Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan islands, offers more than just an underwater paradise.

Established as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in 2010, Nusa Penida's 20,057-hectare area is also a popular site for training purposes and field visits by representatives of international governments, donor bodies and various other organizations.

According to research in 2009 by The Nature Conservancy Indonesia Marine Program, the area is home to up to 1,419 hectares of coral reefs, 230 hectares of mangrove forest filled with 13 mangrove types (mostly located in Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan), and 108 seagrass beds consisting of 8 seagrass varieties.

The region is also home to about 576 species of saltwater fish, of which five are new species.

"Due to its location in Bali, which is a very popular holiday destination, many groups from around the country and abroad want to do their training in Nusa Penida," Coral Triangle Center (CTC) executive director Rili Djohani told The Jakarta Post Travel in Sanur, Bali, last month.

CTC is an Indonesia-based foundation that trains marine resource managers and educates all groups that interact with coastlines and reefs within the Coral Triangle.

Coral Triangle is an area covering 5.7 million square kilometers of the tropical marine waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste. Also known as the Amazon of the seas, it is home to half of the world's coral reefs and has become the global center of marine biodiversity.

Formed in 2000 as the regional training arm of The Nature Conservancy, CTC became an independent organization in 2011 and has conducted more than 125 training sessions, educating more than 2,500 people.

Located 30 minutes away by speedboat off the Balinese coast, Nusa Penida attracts between 200,000 and 260,000 travelers each year. As a comparison, some two million tourists go to Bali each year.

Nusa Penida's marine biodiversity is also an important source of welfare for the 45,000 people in 16 villages, who depend on fisheries, seaweed farming and marine tourism.

To ensure the locals' livelihoods while also maintaining the continuity of the region's tourism industry, a zoning system is utilized in Nusa Penida.

"The zoning system is very important to protect Nusa Penida's marine biodiversity. In mapping the zone, we needed to find a way to make sure there was no conflict between tourism and the local fishermen," CTC outreach coordinator Wira Sanjaya said.

For example, in the “special marine tourism zones” where fishermen also work – designated the “yellow zones” –, a timetable was created.

Tourism activities, including diving, snorkeling and other water sports are held between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., after which fishermen are allowed to fish in the area until 9 a.m. the next day.

In an effort to make Nusa Penida a self-sustaining marine protected area, plans are being developed to establish an entry fee for incoming visitors.

"A 2011 CTC survey found that tourists who came to Nusa Penida were willing to pay between US$5 and $15 to enter the area," said Wira.

For now, though, people can visit the islands for free. Ferries to Nusa Penida departed from several beaches in Bali, such as Sanur, Tanjung Benoa and Padang Bai.

Diving, surfing and watersports are the most popular tourism activities in Nusa Penida. There are 12 dive operators available in the area, offering diving packages starting from Rp 300,000 (US$30).

Mola mola, the heaviest known bony fish in the world, is an especially popular sight in the area. Every year, from July until September, the Mola mola’s swim up near the surface for a “cleansing time”, during which smaller fishes nibble off their dead skin and parasites.

Their popular "cleaning station" spots in Nusa Penida include Crystal Bay, Blue Corner, Ceningan Wall, Sental and Batu Abah.

There are also plans among local dive operators to establish safe diving practices and minimize risk by mapping diving sites in Nusa Penida according to divers' certificate, as the region is known for its strong currents.

Last changed: 24th June, 2013 at 12:50 PM