Bali has abundant and unexplored marine potential<\/p>\n
Ayu Anggraeni, Contributor, Singaraja, North Bali<\/p>\n
For years, the travel and tourist industry has generated major
\nincome for Bali, while industries like agriculture and fisheries
\nwere ignored to make way for tourism development projects.<\/p>\n
Green and spacious rice fields and blue seawater were
\nsacrificed for the development of star-rated hotels, restaurants,
\nvillas -- although almost everyone involved in the travel and
\ntourist industry realized their businesses were vulnerable to
\nexternal factors like security and political issues, the health
\nof the world economy and even global health situations.<\/p>\n
The Bali bombings and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
\n(SARS) outbreak hit Bali's tourist industry hard.<\/p>\n
Dietriech Bengen, a marine expert at the Bogor Agriculture
\nInstitute recently said Bali should properly develop its
\nagricultural and marine potentials rather than relying solely on
\nthe tourist industry.<\/p>\n
The fisheries industry has been growing slowly in Bali despite
\nthe fact that there are more than 140 fishing villages across the
\nisland.<\/p>\n
\"Bali waters have been unwisely overexploited by fishermen
\ncoming from outside of the island,\" Bengen said.<\/p>\n
Within the Balinese cosmology and religious beliefs, seas and
\noceans play a significant social and religious function. The sea
\nis the place for spiritual and physical purification.<\/p>\n
\"The seas and oceans are sacred places which should be
\npreserved and maintained,\" said a local priest.<\/p>\n
Economically, Bali's waters are home to vast numbers of fish
\nand marine products. Demand for Bali's fishery products remains
\nvery high. Plenty of frozen tuna, lobster, tropical fish, crabs,
\nshark fins and other items are regularly shipped to Japan,
\nTaiwan, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n
Geographically, Bali is divided into three major fishing
\ngrounds. These three are off Buleleng regency in North Bali;
\nKarangasem, Klungkung and Gianyar in East Bali; Jembrana, Tabanan
\nand Badung in West Bali.<\/p>\n
Since l998, the fisheries industry has been one of the main
\neconomic pillars in several regencies, such as Klungkung,
\nBuleleng, Badung and Denpasar.<\/p>\n
One thriving fishing area in Buleleng, for instance, is
\nTejakula district, some 100 kilometers northeast of Denpasar.
\nNine out of 10 village in the district, which has 57,000
\nresidents, are fishing villages, including Pacung, Sembiran,
\nJulah, Madenan, Tejakula, Les, Sambirentang and Tembok.<\/p>\n
However, only Les village has been able to improve the
\neconomic situation of residents through sustainable fishing. The
\nvillage is one of the island's major suppliers of tropical fish.<\/p>\n
A recent study of marine potential conducted by the Bali
\nprovincial government identified a number of significant factors
\nhampering the development of the island's coastal and marine
\npotential.<\/p>\n
The study, jointly implemented with the Bogor Agriculture
\nInstitute's Marine Study Center, found that these factors
\nincluded regulations that prevented the further development of
\nthe fishing industry, weak legal enforcement and the absence of
\nadequate business infrastructure.<\/p>\n
A lack of proper management and technology were also listed
\namong the factors.<\/p>\n
Historically, Bali has a tradition of empowering its coastal
\nareas and seas. In an ancient manuscript, Prasasti Sembiran,
\ndated around the year 922, the small village of Julah, next to
\nLes village in Tejakula district, had already established
\nregulations to control fishermen from other areas coming in and
\nout of the village.<\/p>\n
According to the manuscript, residents of the village had the
\nauthority to detain \"illegal\" vessels and their crew, and to
\nconfiscate their catch. The manuscript said the regulations were
\nsuccessful in managing and protecting the island's seas and
\ncoastal areas.<\/p>\n
The recent study of marine potential also found a lack of
\naccess to freshwater. Most fishing villages do not have access to
\nfreshwater, decreasing the quality of their catches which in turn
\nlowers the prices. Moreover, outdated technology and a lack of
\ncapital have also worsened fishery activities in most of the
\nprovince's coastal villages.<\/p>\n
To make matter worse, the majority of local fishermen still
\nemploy destructive fishing techniques, including the use of
\npotassium cyanide and other hazardous chemicals. These
\ndestructive activities destroy coral reefs, the breeding grounds
\nfor fish and other marine species. Consequently, the number and
\ntypes of fish in some areas has diminished both in quality and
\nquantity.<\/p>\n
\"Marine resources in Bali waters have been seriously exploited
\nand overfished. Therefore, we must develop a breeding system to
\nmaintain and preserve the decreasing numbers of valuable
\nspecies,\" said Bengen.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bali-has-abundant-and-unexplored-marine-potential-1447893297",
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