Nusa Penida-Bali Marine Protected Area Declared

Klungkung District Commits to Conservation and Sustainable Resources Management

NUSA PENIDA, BALI, INDONESIA — November 21, 2010 — Indonesia’s Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Fadel Muhammad and District Head of Klungkung I Wayan Candra officially launched Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Penida Island, The Nature Conservancy announced today. The 20,057-hectare Nusa Penida MPA, established by Klungkung District Ordinance No. 12, is aimed to protect the area’s rich marine and coastal life and to support local marine tourism and fisheries. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the Klungkung District Government together with the people of Nusa Penida, the Ministry of Marine and Fisheries Affairs and The Nature Conservancy’s Indonesia Marine Program, with assistance from the USAID Coral Triangle Support Partnership.

Minister Muhammad said that the Nusa Penida MPA will contribute to the government's target of protecting 20 million hectares of coastal ecosystems and marine areas by 2020. “The establishment of MPAs in some areas in Indonesia, including Nusa Penida, is a concrete step taken by the government to implement the plan of action under the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security,” says Fadel. The Initiative is a commitment led by the Indonesian Government along with the governments of the Philippines, Malaysia, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

Indonesian Minister for Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Fadel Muhammad launches the Nusa Penida MPA Photo © Andreas Muljadi/TNC

Candra, the District Head of Klungkung, explains that the waters around Nusa Penida have the highest marine biodiversity in Bali. “You can encounter Mola mola [oceanic sunfish], which is a rare and unique treat. They average about two meters in size and they appear between July and September. Mola mola sightings are a big draw for divers from around the world, who come to Nusa Penida just for the occasion.”

According to a marine ecology study by international marine experts . Emre Turak and Gerry Allen in 2009, there are about 296 species of coral reefs and 576 species of fish in Nusa Penida,. A Conservancy-led survey found there are 1,419 hectares of coral reefs, 230 hectares of mangrove forest containing 13 different species of mangroves and 108 seagrass fields containing eight types of seagrass.

Next steps for the Nusa Penida MPA include zoning, long term planning, forming managing bodies and developing a long-term funding mechanism that can ensure local ecological and economic resources continue to enrich the region’s people and wildlife. With the support and involvement of stakeholders in Nusa Penida and the District of Klungkung, the effective and sustainable management of the Nusa Penida MPA is a real possibility.

“We appreciate the District Government of Klungkung and the people of Nusa Penida for establishing their area as a conservation zone,” says Arwandrija Rukma, the Conservancy’s Indonesia Country Representative “We will continue our successful cooperation with the community government and international development agencies to create effective MPAs that benefit people.”

Also present at the launch were the U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia, the Governor of Bali, village leaders, fishing and seaweed farming representatives, marine tourism operators, local teachers and students and representatives of local and international NGOs.

Source: The Nature Conservancy

Explore Kubu Reef

Kubu is a small village in the neighbourhood of Tulamben. The Kubu reefs are easily accessible from the rocky lava shore. The reef starts right off the beach in shallow water about 2-3mtrs deep featuring huge pinnacles of glassfish-covered coral heads. This site is a good snorkeling spot, too. The coral garden leads into a beautiful ridge covered with fields of staghorn coral (Acropora sp.) and some good sized soft coral (Dendronephthya spp.) which sometimes host rare crustaceans like porcelain crabs and tiny little cowries snails (Pseudosimnia sp.). Please check for pygmy seahorses (Hippocampus bargibanti) on the deeper gorgonian sea fans (Muricella sp.)! Nearly any kind of reef fish is abundant, schooling species like sawtooth barracudas (Sphyraena putnamiae) or large schools of fairy basslets (Pseudoanthias spp.), but also individuals like large groupers can be seen. A very highlight would be the gorgeous juvenile pinnate batfish (Platax pinnatus) which hides in the dark of crevices and holes. This fish is rarely seen by divers but occasionally and, of course, with a bit of luck we can discover this beautiful animal on the Kubu reefs. Especially “macro freaks” will like this site since we have discovered many rare species of nudibranches and sea slugs, some of them not yet described, probably even unknown.

Bali Diving - Menjangan Island

Visibility around the Island is almost always excellent. Combined with the protected environment, Menjangan has become renowned as a great location no matter what your ability level. The wall diving cannot be beaten for both depth and variety. Those seeking a challenge can try out the Anker Wreck. Corals are omnipresent in Menjangan with an excellent range of both hard and soft. Cold currents are largely anonymous here which makes for outings that are more comfortable.