Myanmar looks at Buleleng’s marine conservation

A team from Myanmar visited Buleleng recently due to the country’s interest in the area’s village-level marine conservation management implemented by the coastal communities.

The activity is focused in Penuktukan subdistrict of Tejakula.

Field training coordinator for Laut Alam Lestari (LINI) Foundation, Andri Ali Musta’in, said on Thursday that the Myanmar team visited north Bali waters having become interested in the people’s efforts and participation.

“They were interested in how these people made their own efforts on the matter. There were a lot of things they wanted to learn from the local people,” he said.

“In Myanmar, the policy is top-down. But in Bali, or in Indonesian cities in general, it is the people who start,” Andri added.

Andri said that the Myanmar delegation also went snorkeling in the waters to directly observe the marine life.

“They were amazed because large fish can be seen in such shallow waters, unlike in Myanmar,” he said, adding that Penuktukan waters now had the potential to attract foreign tourists.

Separately, Buleleng Fisheries and Maritime Agency head Nyoman Sutrisna expressed his appreciation of the delegation’s visit. He said he was happy that the people’s effort had received a response from another country.

“We also don’t know, why Buleleng? Well, I guess they know about north Bali’s marine potential from various sources,” he said. “But at least we now know that people start to look at north Bali’s natural resources.”

Nyoman went on to say that the agency was studying the coral reefs in East and Central Buleleng with a view to implement bio rock technology next year.

The technology, which was introduced by scientist Tom Gorou, has successfully made Pemuteran Bay, also in Buleleng, the best marine conservation site in Indonesia and one of the best in the world.

“We are studying and developing this technology in the two areas. We expect the conservation can start by 2014,” he said.

Sutrisna said bio rock, however, could suit Lovina and Kerobokan waters better. “We’re still studying this. We hope it all goes smoothly,” he said.

source: Jakarta Post

http://www.thejakartapost.com/bali-daily/2013-10-29/myanmar-looks-buleleng-s-marine-conservation.html