On  January  27, 2023,  the Bali Marine Protected Area (MPA) Management Unit (UPTD KKP Bali), supported by CTC, conducted monitoring of resource utilization in the Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area (MPA). This activity aims to increase the effectiveness of conservation area management through compliance with the MPA zoning system. Effective management of conservation areas is a goal of the establishment of the Nusa Penida MPA. The suitability of resource utilization patterns based on the MPA zoning system that has been established is one of the efforts to encourage effective management. 

Monitoring activities were carried out by using a speed boat and going around the entire MPA area in accordance with the standard operating procedure (SOP) for resource utilization monitoring. The activity began from Nusa Penida MPA office in Sampalan harbor and focused on tourism and fisheries activities and socializing the implementation of retribution fee in the Nusa Penida MPA. The monitoring route also may be altered based on the situational conditions in the field, such as weather and wave conditions.

During the monitoring activity, the majority of the activities observed were related to marine tourism. There were 60 tourism boats observed, of which 21 dive boats were found at the most popular dive site, Manta Point. The monitoring team also found marine debris floating in popular dive sites such as Manta Bay and Manta Point. There were also fishing activities observed during the monitoring activity, with 14 fishing boats found, of which five were fishing in zones where fishing is not allowed while one  boat was using a compressor hookah, which is a fishing method considered unsustainable and therefore not allowed. 

The team carried out preventive measures by raising awareness about the conservation areas and instructing fishermen to move to traditional fishing zones. CTC is committed to supporting the UPTD KKP Bali to continue resource utilization monitoring in order to ensure the effective management of Nusa Penida MPA.

The Nusa Penida MPA has an area of 1,419 hectares of coral reefs, 230.07 hectares of mangrove forest, and 108 hectares of seagrass beds. The waters of Nusa Penida have a high diversity of marine biological resources. There are 296 species of hard corals and 576 fish species. The marine waters of Nusa Penida also have a variety of unique and rare marine life, with manta rays, turtles, sharks, dugongs, whales, and dolphins found in the area. It is also home to one of the most famous deep-sea fish in the world, the sunfish. This very important biological resource is the basis for determining the marine waters of Nusa Penida to be a conservation area.

Text: Adam Putra, Wira Sanjaya,
Photo: Wira Sanjaya/CTC & Tabitha Rudang/CTC