Jewels in the sea of Maumere Bay marine parks

Jewels in the sea of Maumere Bay marine parks

By Yacob Herin

MAUMERE, Flores (JP): The many marine parks of Flores are
being promoted for tourism. Chief among them are ones around the
islands in Maumere Bay in Sikka regency, which have acquired an
international reputation as waterfront tourist attractions.

The area has been officially declared a marine tourist park,
mainly for diving, snorkeling, water skiing and other water
sports, by the central government, the East Nusa Tenggara
regional government and the Sikka administration. The area covers
about 10,545 hectares of Maumere Bay, the islands of Sukun,
Besar, Great Kojadoi, Small Kojadoi, Babi, Great Pemana, Small
Pemana and Dambilah.

The marine park is highly attractive and holds specific
charms. Notable are its coral reefs and varied, colorful flora
and fauna, many of which are rare species. Marine scientists are
conducting taxonomic classification of several new species.

According to Markus Tolang, who studied diving in Hawaii and
is an expert in the field, the submarine topography generally
consists of reefs of the shelf-reef type, a layered coral reef
with oceanic reef characteristics. This is a reef that is a rocky
hill or mountain that soars 200 meters or more from the sea floor
to the surface with a drop-off wall profile.

The underwater panorama is beautiful with good visibility and
coral reefs more than 20 meters deep. In general, ideal coral
reefs are found at a maximum depth of 20 meters. It is not the
case at Maumere, where the reefs are more beautiful at lower
depths. Divers often ignore the danger of descending too deep in
their zeal to view the reefs.

Varying tides, between 1.5 meters and two meters normally and
two meters to three meters in extraordinary situations, enhance
the growth and life of the species of Maumere Bay.

After a massive earthquake and tsunami hit Flores on Dec. 12,
1992, followed by the Lena tropical storm on Jan. 31, 1993, the
raging waves pulverized many coral reefs into coral sand. This
happened to nearly all reef peaks which directly faced oncoming
waves reaching 10 meters in height. It was estimated at the time
that the havoc caused by the earthquake was about 30 percent and
the devastation from Lena was about 50 percent.

Despite the widespread destruction, an extraordinary
transformation happened in only three years. An enchanting
example of natural renewal occurred in the form of acropora
reefs, which belong to the type of hard reefs that grow to 30 cms
to 40 cms. That type of reef has shown a normal growth.

Maumere Bay Marine Park is distinguished by the uniqueness of
its coral reefs. "The coral reefs here are able to feed and to
shelter various types of marine plants and animals, and to give a
life to life on our planet. Besides, coral reefs can create a
shallow water area, a lagoon," Markus said.

A quiet water area or bay serves as a site to obtain various
types of reef fish and marine plants, and as a safe corridor for
sea traffic. Another function of a coral reef is as natural sea
wall for the coast, port and nearby houses from the battery of
the waves.

Markus warned that mud and muddy water, freshwater and waste
from urban, agricultural and industrial sources were highly
destructive to the life of coral reefs. Excessive and
uncontrolled exploitation of the sea also causes environmental
destruction and affects reefs. How people choose to live on both
land and sea has great bearing on the reefs.

Markus hoped all members of the community would try to protect
and conserve coral reefs in the Maumere Bay Marine Park and the
surrounding area.

His research found there were nine species in Maumere Bay
which were not known in published marine studies.

Maumere Bay's problems figured prominently in a discussion on
conservation of the environment on land and sea in East
Nusatenggara, organized by the Caritas Foundation, the Nusa Jaya
Foundation and San Marina Travel Agency in Maumere on June 15.

Marcel Koli Tolang Asya, diving expert of San Marina Travel
Agency, noted the importance of the conservation of Maumere Bay
and the surrounding islands. He said tourist activities in the
area should be environment-friendly or the budding industry would
be hampered.

"Otherwise, we will someday lose the tourists who visit the
Sikka area for its marine attractions," he said.