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Establising a new and unique dive site in Enepahembang Sangihe Islands, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
Project leader: Walter Balansa
Level of education and university: PhD, The University of Queenslan
Collaborating Organisations: Enepahembang Village Office
Project Location: In Tahuna Bay, Sangihe Islands, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
Activity Type: Capacity building, mentoring or coaching
Sector: Aquaculture/fisheries, Natural Resource Management
Project Rationale:
One of the biggest challenges faced by all coastal regions in the world, including the community in Enepahembang Sangihe Islands, is to recover from the economy after COVID-19 and conserve the marine environment. Located in East Tahuna Sangihe Islands, the Epehembang coastal area is known to have high marine biodiversity including corals, fish, marine algae, soft corals, and sponges. Seventy percent of the coral are in good condition, and it is the main fishing spot for fishermen in the coastal village and occasionally visited by tourists. Despite its rich marine biodiversity, this area lacks diving spots with marine organisms such as anemone fish, sponges, and marine algae that live sporadically. Because we already successfully grew several species of marine sponges in situ in Epepahembang and several species of anemone fish in Talengen Bay, we are confident that integrating the mariculture of sponge, anemone, and green algae Calulepra racemosa offers a great opportunity for creating a new and unique diving spot in Enepahembang. In addition to being part of the diving spot, the green algae can also serve as a local culinary item, thus creating added value and uniqueness to the diving spot while at the same time conserving the environment.
Project Beneficiaries:
30 people from the village with two men will be trained in SCUBA diving, women and children will be trained to cultivate anemon fish and 10 men in cultivating the marine algae.
Priority Development Area:
Economic Recovery
Link with Australian organisation:
Not available
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