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ollowing a series of coral transplantation programs, Nusa Dua has made good progress in restoring coral reefs as many new corals have grown on artificial reef structures placed underwater two years ago.

Monitoring conducted at a depth of between 6 to 9 meters, particularly in the Samuh area in Nusa Dua, showed new coral growth on the submarine reef, man-made constructions submerged to serve as platform for transplanted coral.

“We found many young corals growing on 76 submarine reefs we placed in 2009 and 2010,” said Pariama Hutasoit, the director of Nusa Dua Reef Foundation, which organized the “Beach Clean Up and Coral Caring” event at Samuh Beach on Friday.

“The growth of coral indicates the submarine reef, or the biological substrate [a surface on which an organism grows or is attached], is in stable condition. The substrate is able to provide a healthy environment for the coral to grow,” she said.

Hundreds of coral pieces have been transplanted since 2009, some a result of a breeding program at Serangan Island and others pieces of coral that broke off naturally and were taken from surrounding submarine areas.

A cursory inspection of area showed that much of the coral grew at a rate of 1 to 2 centimeters per year.

However, some coral had died off due to various reasons, including environmental stress.

“Some of the coral was also damaged through human activity. They can recover from natural disturbances but it takes time, and destructive human activity hampers the recovery,” Pariama said.

At the same event, 50 divers from NGOs and dive operators joined the clean up. Underwater, they collected garbage in net-like bags. Most of the garbage consisted of plastic bags and clothes.

“The garbage can damage the coral since it inhibits light, which is needed for photosynthesis. If this happens over an extended period the coral dies,” Pariama said.

Coral contains the single-cell protozoa zooxanthellae in its tissue. Through photosynthesis, the zooxanthellae produces sugars to feed the coral. Sugars make up 98 percent of the coral’s food.

With their brilliant reds, oranges and browns, zooxanthellae give corals their color. Without zooxanthellae, the coral would lose its color and slowly starve to death.

The event, supported by the Bali Tourism Development Corporation (BTDC), Coral Triangle Center and Badung regency’s Association of Water Tourism Businesses (Gahawisri), was themed “Pledge an Act, Save Our Coral”.

“This is a perfect moment to raise public awareness that coral reefs are crucial for the marine ecosystem, to protect seashores from abrasion and to bring local communities more benefits from fishery and tourism,” Pariama said, adding that between the 1950s and 1970s, large-scale coral mining by locals destroyed most reefs in the Nusa Dua area.

“This happened before the tourism boom. People mined coral for construction. But now we are seeing a growing awareness from corporations, dive operators and local communities to conserve the reefs.”

BTDC director for development Edwin Darmasetiawan said tourism industry brought benefits to the local community, but could also damage the marine ecosystem if it was managed irresponsibly. He called on tourism industry stakeholders in Nusa Dua to contribute to the preservation of marine species.