Reef Ramblings

This year, a two-week survey of the reefs around Bali by Conservation International has identified eight species of fish along with a species of coral that may be new to science. The species included two types of Cardinalfishes, two varieties of Dottybacks, a Sandperch, a fang blenny (possibly a new Meiacanthus species), a Garden Eel, a Goby, and a previously unknown Euphyllia coral.

Dottyback – Juvenile.

Photo: Gerald Allen / © Conservation International

Adult Dottyback – Manonicththys sp.

Photo: Gerald Allen / © Conservation International

Dottyback – Pseudochromis sp.

Photo: Gerald Allen / © Conservation International

The survey was carried out at 33 sites around Bali, nearly completing a circle around it, covering a tremendous variety of habitats. Surprisingly high levels of diversity were observed, and the coral reefs appeared to be in a state of recovery from the bleaching, destructive fishing and crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks of the 1990s.

Euphyllia sp.

Photo: Mark Erdmann / © Conservation International

 

Grallenia sp. Goby

Photo: Gerald Allen / © Conservation International

Unfortunately, during the same survey, damage to the reefs was also seen, giving the researchers cause for concern. Although the survey found a 7:1 ratio of live to dead coral, a severe depletion of commercially important reef fish was observed. During this year’s two-week survey consisting of more than 350 man-hours of diving, just three reef sharks and three Napoleon wrasse were seen, about as many large reef predators as a diver would expect to see on a healthy reef during a single dive. Plastic pollution was noted to be omnipresent and fishing was seen to be encroaching into no-take areas in West Bali National Park.

Garden Eel – Heteroconger sp.

Photo: Gerald Allen / © Conservation International

 

Sandperch – Parapercis sp.

Photo: Gerald Allen / © Conservation International

Conservation International (CI) is a nonprofits group that has been cataloguing new species and tracking the health of Bali’s coral reefs since the 1990s. “Compared to 12 years ago, we observed an increase in healthy coral reef cover in the area surveyed, indicating a recovery phase. That is why it needs serious protection and management, to complete the revitalization,” said Ketut Sarjana Putra, CI Indonesia’s acting executive director. Over the past three years, CI’s Rapid Assessment Program has documented 953 species of fish and 397 species of coral in Bali’s reefs.

Fangblennies – Meiacanthus sp.

Photo: Gerald Allen / © Conservation International

CI is working with local partners at the request of the Bali provincial government and fisheries officials, who are looking for advice on how best to protect the region’s marine life. The team recommended that the Bali government come up with a priority list for areas that need immediate protection. The experts also saw a need for better spatial planning to reduce the clash between fishing and marine tourism, for stronger commitment to enforcement and public funding for protected areas, and stricter measures to manage pollution from plastics, sewage and agricultural runoff.

Cardinalfish – Apogon sp.

Cardinalfish Siphamia sp

Photo: Mark Erdmann / © Conservation International

The survey highlights how important marine protected areas are to improving economic returns from marine tourism whilst also providing food security and ensuring the sustainability of small-scale local fisheries.

To learn more about Conservation International go to: www.conservation.org

Tim Hayes

Midland Reefs

©2011