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enpasar: Local people in Nusa Lembongan, Bali, are increasing their efforts in coral conservation to protect coastal and marine areas amid the thriving tourist industry on the island.  A joint team made up of local fishermen from Lembongan village, Coral Triangle Center (CTC) and local government representatives, and students from the Bali International School planted coral in island waters last week.
There was a scarcity of coral off the north coast of the island, so the team placed five large concrete blocks, on which 120 coral fragments had been planted, at a depth of around six to seven meters under the water.

Coral planting involves gluing small pieces, or fragments, of living coral onto a suitable surface with a special environmentally safe epoxy, and then placing them in a location where they will thrive and grow.
 “Coral in the area is still recovering from the damage caused by boats that used to throw their anchors overboard without marine buoys,” said Marthen Welly, the CTC’s learning manager for the protected marine area of Nusa Penida, which includes Nusa Lembongan island.