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span class="caption" style="width: 338px;">Scenic: Olele is now receiving more tourist arrivals due to its great diving. Courtesy of Paul Batuna Fishing is the livelihood of most people in Olele village. They focus on tuna because the fish sells for fairly high prices, Rp 30,000 (US$3.09) to 35,000 per kilo.

'Olele fishermen sell tuna to fish collectors for further export to different countries,' said Guntur Amu, 37, Olele village's secretary.

Steep underwater banks as well as the presence of coral reefs and marine biota that are in relatively good condition ensure the availability of many sources of food for various species of fish in Olele's waters.

'The situation around the beach used to be worse, with lots of the reef damaged by environmentally unfriendly fishing practices,' said the man who also works as a fisherman.

Some of the destructive fishing methods were the use of spears, drugging fish with potassium and using explosives, which caused damage and reduced fish populations.

In the beginning of 2000, an American named Rantje Allen asked locals to take him to a number of spots in Olele and did a lot of diving in the area.

'At first we were suspicious about what the man was actually doing around here,' Guntur said.

Later local residents recognized Rantje as a professional diver who was fond of searching for new dive spots. He also explored the waters along with then-Gorontalo governor Fadel Muhammad, who was also a diving enthusiast.

Starting in 2004, Olele started to receive domestic and foreign tourists. It was Rantje who introduced Olele to the world through a book collectively compiled in 2006 entitled Gorontalo: The Hidden Paradise.

The high rate of tourist arrivals, which can also pose a threat to the ecological sustainability of the waters, prompted the Bone Bolango regency administration in 2006 to name a Regional Marine Conservation Zone (KKLD) in Olele village, covering 2,460 hectares.

The decision was followed by a village regulation on the conservation zone and the formation of a tourism community group and a control community group. The KKLD was divided into a limited utilization zone for fishermen to catch fish like grouper and tuna by harmless means, and a core zone beside the village as a fish reproduction base.

'Tourists wishing to dive in the core zone have to go by boat instead of directly plunging into the waters,' he said. Consequently, the fish population has been increasing and spreading to the limited utilization zone, allowing most fishermen to enjoy bigger catches.

Nonetheless, the possible threat continues. The core zone has often sustained fish poaching, mostly by fishermen from outside Olele. 'In 2012 there were five cases of fish theft with spears and also compressors, generally aiming at lobster and tuna,' said Guntur.

'We reported all such poaching to the water and air police, whoever was involved,' he added.

Yet another threat comes from illegal gold mining in the hilly area not far from the village, with the resulting hazardous waste flowing into the sea. A steam power-generating plant located several kilometers from Olele could also have a share in the beach village's ecological damage.

'Solutions to overcome the threats should be sought, otherwise the continuity of the Olele marine paradise's ecosystem could continue to be endangered, thus affecting the welfare of local people,' Guntur said.

' JP/Syam Terrajana