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.