PEMUTERAN, INDONESIA ¹⁶

PROJECT OBJECTIVE ¹⁷

Communities protecting their marine resources. Through interactive community involvement, Pemuteran Village Marine Protected Area is a “bottom-up” program which was established and enforced under village law.

Located in Northwest of Bali; 115 kilometers from Denpasar. (Capital of Bali Province).

SITE STRUCTURES ¹⁸

MARCH 2001- 18 new coral nursery structures were built along the length of the Pemuteran Protected Area, in front of Taman Sari Hotel.

APRIL/MAY 2022- 6 more structures were installed during the making of the Documentary “Reef Reborn-Into the Unseen World“, 3 of these structures were installed in front of Reef Seen Aquatics as well as a long mesh and wires directly attached to Corals.
2003 - November 2005- 25 more Structures were installed in front of Taman Sari Hotel and the Sea Temple during the Biorock Workshops.

2009- 1 more structure was added, these structures are located in an area parallel to the shore, about 50-100 metres from the coastline, in waters ranging from about 3 to 7 metres deep. They are roughly lined up, forming a natural snorkelling and diving trail.

Off shore Reef Seen Aquatics and the Reef Gardeners of Pemuteran installed another BioRock structure called Bio-Wreck followed by a structure in the form of a Turtle.

The coral nursery structures are made of welded construction steel bars, mainly of 1 centimeter and 1.3 centimeter diameter. They are built in a variety of shapes, height and length.

Enforcing community-based marine resource management

A previously declared but loosely enforced Village Marine Protected Area has been reinvigorated, with a community patrol – pecalang laut – established to enforce regulations banning destructive fishing practices and monitors the marine protected area for violators and transgressors.

KEY ACTIVITIES AND INNOVATIONS ¹⁹

Underwater coral sculpture gardens

Using Biorock structures, the community has constructed a sculpture diving trail, with design features inspired by Balinese temple gardens.

The sculpture trail has been a draw for dive tourism, with proceeds reinvested into the Reef Gardeners Programme.

Improving waste management and reducing soil erosion

To improve water quality in the bay by addressing land-based as well as sea-based threats.

  • Prioritized waste processing and recycling programs, as well as a plan for more effectively dealing with the treatment of sewage.

  • The community has also addressed soil erosion through the planting of vetiver grass along shorelines, reducing the run-off that tends to smother reefs.

  • An initiative which operates without a defined organizational structure; represents a collaborative effort between the community of Pemuteran, local hotels and dive schools, and the researchers who developed Biorock technology.

    Involvement:

    • Assisted in the installation of the first Biorock structure providing a catalyst for the reintroduction.

    • Strengthening of the locally managed marine protected areas.

    • Involved community-based initiatives and self-help groups to support the work of the foundation, including carrying out activities such as the maintenance of Biorock reefs, planting vetiver grass on the shoreline to reduce erosion, and patrolling the protected area to enforce fishing restrictions.

  • A nonprofit organization made up of volunteers and researchers in the field of coral reef restoration and management.

    GCRA researchers developed the Biorock method of coral reef restoration and have provided training and support to the Pemuteran community.

    GCRA’s Involvement:

    • Supporting community-based conservation and protection for all marine resources through education and regeneration programs.

    • Ensuring continual conservation through support from local communities, business owners, government, marine scientists and conservationists.

    • Restoring coral reef habitats to former natural beauty and increasing fisheries for sustainable ecotourism development.

    • Shifting fishermen’s destructive harvest methods to ecologically-friendly alternatives—converting fishermen from hunters to farmers.

    • Combating environmental degradation through reef rehabilitation and resource management.

    • Providing environmental education for tourists and the local population.

    • Diversifying livelihood opportunities.

  • A non-governmental organisation whose movements are oriented towards:

    • Coastal and Ecosystem Conservation.

    • Empowerment of Coastal Communites and Small Islands.

    • Application of Environmentally-friendly Alternative Technology.

PARTNERS ²⁰