Les and Serangan

[Anonymous]

Perhaps if you guys had framed your questions differently, we could provide answers. Reading between the lines, I assume that what the hobbyist wants to know is where they can buy net-caught fish coming from Bali?

Sigh. You know what they say about assumptions.
If you are going to ask for money, you need to show that you aren't a scam. Letting people know that animals are actually in the pipeline would be a great way to start that - as would be the other ways I suggested.
If someone were asking you for money, what information would you want?

 

[PeterIMA]

Balinese farm coral to boost fish catch, income 09 Dec 2007 11:35:12 GMT
Source: Reuters


By Emma Graham-Harrison

SERANGAN, Indonesia, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Algae-covered lumps of cement would make a strange catch for most fishermen, but they have helped revive a Bali fishing village devastated by reckless tourist development and 'mining' of reefs for building materials.

Seaside Serangan has become a modest centre for the unusual coral-farming trade, with thousands of the formations growing in offshore iron grids. They are sold for export or used to reconstruct reefs that nurture fish and draw diving tourists.

Beside the farmed coral, cement chunks that are shaped like the rocks that line the ocean and reefs, are picking up a patina of natural growth that turns them into valuable decorations for aquariums from Australia to the United States.

"Before reclamation, the fish here were not so plentiful. Also, the numbers of different kinds of fish were lower," said Nyoman Sopi, leader of the fishermen who set up the farm and who previously worked in the tourist centre of Kuta.

Once a small island off Bali's shore, the area was claimed in the 1990s by a developer who planned to build a huge resort, and set about expanding it to six times its original size, and linking it to the mainland.

To do this, giant pumps sucked filler from the sea floor, pulverising corals they vacuumed up with the sand, said Asyma Sianiapar, Programme Assistant at the Global Environment Facility which is also supporting the venture.

Combined with traditional 'mining' of coral for building houses and temples, which was officially banned around 2002, and damaging fishing practices, the reefs that supported the local fishing industry were decimated.

The resort was never built, hit by the Asian financial crisis and the domestic turmoil that accompanied the end of former president Suharto's reign in 1998. But the damage was done.

Catches fell by half, and the seaweed banks that the women used to walk around the island harvesting for food and to sell disappeared, fishermen and their families said.

Earnings fell and children were forced to drop out of school.

"If you don't make an alternative income source for the families, what will they eat, what will they put on the table for their children?" said Nael Ginting, manager of the project for NGO Telapak, which promotes sustainable fishing in poor communities.

"Many people in Indonesia are only thinking about the present...because they need some money to live off."

CLIMATE RISK

Now they have about 800 square metres (8,600 sq ft) of cultivated coral, including the farms and new reefs and sell around 20,000 pieces a year, for around $3 to $5 each.

The nearly 40 families, about 10 percent of the village, who are involved in the farm make $50 a month, an important supplement to other income from fishing and tourist work.

Coral farming seems surprisingly simple. All you have to do is break off a branch from a living coral, glue it to the cement bases that anchor it in the off-sea cages, and leave them in a shallow, clean, wave-swept part of the sea.

A hard coral in a month can grow to the size of a toddler's hand, and in a year it can expand to the span of a large adult hand, with fingers fully stretched.

Plucked from the farm and held by their long cement stems, the corals, which range from purple and white to green and orange, look like bouquets of surrealist flowers.

But the village's new-found income faces a serious risk from a source that 190 nations have gathered to discuss at U.N.-led climate talks less than an hour's drive along the coast.

Hotter seas have been causing "bleaching", a mass die-off. Experts say 16 percent of the world's coral was wiped out in 1998 when global warming and the "El Nino" weather phenomenon combined to cause the highest sea temperatures ever recorded.

And while Serangan has so far been untouched, the nearby West Bali National Park has been badly hit, with many soft corals disintegrating altogether -- making loss of reefs, or coral farms, another danger for poor seaside communities already at risk from rising seas and storm surges linked to climate change.

"If the reality of climate change brings bleaching of corals we must be prepared because we don't want to lose our income," said Telapak's Ginting. (Editing by David Fogarty)

AlertNet news is provided by Reuters

 

[Anonymous]

If someone were asking you for money, what information would you want?

Now that is a very good question Thales!

 

[PeterIMA]

Dec 9, 2007
Balinese Farm Coral to Boost Fish Catch, Income

Algae-covered lumps of cement would make a strange catch for most fishermen, but they have helped revive a Bali fishing village devastated by reckless tourist development and "mining" of reefs for building materials.

Seaside Serangan has become a modest center for the unusual coral-farming trade, with thousands of the formations growing in offshore iron grids. They are sold for export or used to reconstruct reefs that nurture fish and draw diving tourists.

Beside the farmed coral, cement chunks that are shaped like the rocks that line the ocean and reefs, are picking up a patina of natural growth that turns them into valuable decorations for aquariums from Australia to the United States.

"Before reclamation, the fish here were not so plentiful. Also, the numbers of different kinds of fish were lower," said Nyoman Sopi, leader of the fishermen who set up the farm and who previously worked in the tourist center of Kuta.

Now they have about 800 square metres (8,600 sq feet) of cultivated coral, including the farms and new reefs and sell around 20,000 pieces a year, for around US$3 to $5 each.

Coral farming seems surprisingly simple. All you have to do is break off a branch from a living coral, glue it to the cement bases that anchor it in the off-sea cages, and leave them in a shallow, clean, wave-swept part of the sea.

A hard coral in a month can grow to the size of a toddler's hand, and in a year it can expand to the span of a large adult hand, with fingers fully stretched.

Plucked from the farm and held by their long cement stems, the corals, which range from purple and white to green and orange, look like bouquets of surrealist flowers.

 

[PeterIMA]

INDO/02/24 Coral Reef Restoration and Establishment of Sustainable, Community-based Ornamental Fish Business

Project Brief

The main goal of this project is to support the Les villagers' initiative to stop detrimental methods of fishing. The village has 200 active fishermen with 110 who live from collecting and selling ornamental fish. In the 1980s the ornamental fishermen switched to the use of cyanide to catch ornamental fish around the north coast of Bali and as far as South East Sulawesi (part of Wakatobi Marine National Park). According to the elders, 30 years ago the coral reef in front of Les village used to be rich with numerous fish and coral species. Over time, the fishers of Les noticed that they have to sail longer and further to collect a harvest of ornamental fish. The women wait on the beach ready with buckets to help transfer the fish to holding tanks before transport to Denpasar and airfreight export. The women also testify to the decrease in the fish catch including fish for eating. With less fish available to eat or sell, the villagers spend much more of their income on buying food compared to a two decade ago. School fees and transport costs are getting more expensive, creating economic pressure on the already poor village.

Rather than waiting for government aid to help reduce hardship, the community started to organize themselves and plan how they could improve their own life through environmental betterment. With the help of ProMola-Telapak (a Bogor-based network of marine ecosystem awareness) and Bahtera Nusantara (a Sanur-based non-government organization), the community embarked on learning-by-doing awareness activities that led them to sustainable fishing practices. Started with informal discussions and workshops about coral and fish-friendly nets, the villagers and Bahtera Nusantara Foundation collaborated to develop a series of sustainable fishing techniques and reef restoration activities. All discussions and planning sought wide participation of community members, both men and women, and budgets and proposals are available to all to read.
With increased knowledge of changes in market demand, the fishers are able to target their fishing to the species with the best prices. Fishers from Les continue to sell their ornamental fish to the same local intermediary shops but with better price and bargaining power. This initial improvement has increased their self-confidence, so that now they plan to sell ornamental fish directly to stores and end customers abroad. Various interests from foreign buyers were expressed to the community’s company since its establishment in the late 2002. Trading in general, however, has not recovered yet as result from Bali bombing trauma and SARS.
The coral farming activity, however, is thriving. The simple method of coral restoration involve cutting off small pieces of live coral from healthy reefs, and tying these pieces onto a rock or piece of rubble. The coral farming has generated interest from hotels in the neighborhood and other villages who want to restore their coral reefs. This reaction has incited idea to cultivate and trade coral in sustainable way.

To give a better picture of the initiative, here is the list of the ecological threats as defined by the villagers in the initial phase of the project:
· destructive fishing using cyanide that killed and degraded coral reefs in Les
· the use of bomb fishing in the past, which destroyed fish and reefs
· over-fishing
· coral mining for construction materials
· anchoring activities (by villagers or by tourists from surrounding hotels)
· lack of awareness among villagers about the importance of healthy coral reef and healthy ecosystems around their village in general
· lack of law enforcement (destructive fishers got away without sanctions)
· land conversion into resort buildings (lack of access to the beach and more landless people that increase the pressure to extract more from limited natural resources in semi-arid and poor areas of Tejakula).
The overall goal of the project is healthy coral reefs and a sustainable livelihood in ornamental fish for the community of Les, Tejakula, Bali.

The main activities include:
§ Restoration of coral reef habitat along areas of Les beach (about 1,5 km)
§ Creation of a model of a sustainable ornamental fishery
§ Improvement of community's livelihood through eco-trading
§ Improvement of awareness and knowledge of local people in coral reef ecosystem management

At present, together with Bahtera Nusantara Foundation and volunteers, the Les villagers have achieved the following results:
· community based mapping (villagers have produced a basic village map/boundaries; a land use map; a habitat map along the beach line; a resource map; and a donor/mother coral maps). Method of data collection: Participatory Rural Appraisal; GIS map.
· 20 degraded reef blocks were established with 50 pieces of coral each by November 2002).
· 1200 coral cuttings were planted. The rate of growth has been monitored closely. Recent reef check on 2 August 2003 show high rate growth and low mortality rate.
· coral and fish community-based biological monitoring using Manta tow technique and Lite Intercept Transect.
· preparation of coral restoration modules, negotiated with neighboring villages for replication with support from Department of Fishery of Bali. Communities of Wakatobi Marine National Park in South East Sulawesi have expressed interest in replicating the Les model.
· PT Bahtera Lestari is established and running (with democratic company structure and sound business analysis).
· Fish farm building for ornamental fish (75% finished) with 90 units of aquarium (100x50x40 cm each); 190 watt aerator ; two 500 watt pumps.
· 280 m of pipelines to ensure regular water flow for fish farm.
· The company is on its way to install other equipment such as a packing facility, computers, more reliable electricity system, communication means in Les.
2. Poverty Reduction:
This community-based initiative has provided incentives for the youth to stay or return to the village rather than migrating to urban areas. The company is starting to give training for other local communities to run their own business as part of access and control to their own resources. It is too early to say that this project can solve all the economic problems of Les, but for almost a year since the project was formally launched, the local communities have enjoyed improvements to their community center, better information flow regarding markets, better relations with customary as well as formal government at all levels.

To quantify the improvement of income, the prices of ornamental fish from Les have already increased, as indicated in their price list. A social economic survey is underway by a graduate student and is expected to produce analysis soon. It is important to notice that the community, through this project, can start to send the boys and girls to school and start saving for the future.


3. Biodiversity Impacts:
The coral restoration conducted by Les and the cyanide-free fishing practiced is now a part of Les customary law, as the community vowed to ban cyanide and any form of destructive fishing in Les village. A year ago, it was hard to find more than a few species live coral, but recently, a Denpasar-based dive operator has started to bring divers to look at the blooming ocean and the community-based coral restoration project.

More rigorous indicators for biological monitoring to track coral reef growth in size and diversity is being designed and tested through community-based coral and fish monitoring. Two fishermen mentioned that the variety and quality of fish has increased slightly since the last six months (look at the attached list of species and price list). Coral monitoring in November 2002 conducted in three sites between 3m and 10 m depth shows a low percentage of live corals. About 18% of corals were alive at 3 m depth and 25% of corals were alive at 10 m. This will be an important base line to monitor changes in biodiversity in the Les coastal area

4. Combined Impact:
The initiative has resulted in both betterment of life quality and environment as described above. Intensive awareness programs have brought better understanding about conserving resources for future generations. The imparting of technical knowledge to monitor corals and fish has strengthened the project resulting in a common agreement to protect the fishing grounds and the coral reefs from destructive practices. The community understands that a healthy ecosystem of coral reef will guarantee diversity of sea creatures including coral and ornamental fish. The conservation of the coral reef and wise fishing practices will increase revenues today and into the future. If the fishermen do not have to sail so far or dive too often, then their families will have less need to borrow money and less expenditure to send the fishermen suffering from decompression sickness to hospital.

Approaches, techniques and tools employed during the preparation and implementation of the project:
§ Informal approach by community organizers even before the conception of the project. The director of the foundation who is a marine biologist and Pro-Mola activists started to visit the village two years before the villagers embarked on the initiative to change their destructive fishing method. During those two years, the community built trust and enhanced awareness of the need to take collective action to repair their environment and improve their fishing methods.
§ Participatory program development and budgeting. This process helped the community to monitor the implementation of the activities and helped develop the practice of accountability and transparency that is crucial for successful biodiversity resource governance and management.
§ Participatory rural appraisal and community-based mapping exercises for data collection and tools for participatory planning. The GIS based map is a powerful tool for the local community helping them to participate actively in government decision-making process affecting the development and resource extraction method in their village.
§ Community-based biological monitoring with simple methods involving marine biologists and master divers (on-going). This is important for the community to see their marine resource from conservation perspective. The growth and beauty of the coral garden boosts appreciation and willingness to protect.
§ Social-economic survey through participatory research method (on-going). This is an important exercise for local communities to know their own socio-economic conditions first hand and helps them to develop a sustainable index of resource extraction.
§ Revolving fund as seed capital for community-based development.
§ Multi-stakeholders policy dialogue to create synergy and ensure support from government, public leaders and customary government. So far, this approach has brought together key actors from government, private sector and community to discuss the situation in Les and how they can move on with mutually beneficial efforts; to provide opportunities for discussing conflicts of interest and barriers to future policy development toward sustainable resource management.

5. Partnerships:
Mina Bhakti Soansari Fisher Group:
The group is supported by 67 ornamental fishers who are the main actors for implementation. Members have mobilized their community of men and women, boys and girls, to participate in coral farming, education and awareness activities in the community centers and in the temples. The mapping exercise would not be possible without full participation from the group and community of Les at large.

Bahtera Nusantara Foundation
Including Indonesian activists from non-Balinese community, the foundation has won the hearts of Les people. This is the key to enable the group to help further with capacity building and technical aspect of the initiative. The group helps strengthen community initiative to link the community with pertinent government bodies, the business community and with communities facing the similar poverty and ecological challenges in other villages and islands. The group has successfully facilitated policy dialogue, resource mobilization, market access, and business linkages.


ProMola-Telapak and Dive Operator
This is an important volunteer and resource pool for marketing, information dissemination and linkages in community-based resource management. With the help of ProMola, outreach productions of the program have received help from various volunteers, bringing in the right expertise at the right time. The dive operator also helps the initiative by promoting the area as site for tourism.

GEF-SGP Indonesia
SGP Indonesia took the opportunity to support the Les initiative as an example of a creative and innovative approach to biodiversity conservation conducted by local communities.

Marine Aquarium Council
In an attempt to obtain recognition from international certifiers, the project collaborates with the Marine Aquarium Council. To ensure that their fishing grounds along the route from Les to Matinggola is also cyanide free, some fishers from Les have launched an environmental awareness programme to inform fellow fishermen to stop destructive fishing activities. The fishers network along the fisherfolk villages gradually move on to knowledge sharing about sustainable practices and protection in communities’ fishing ground as part of sustainable marine resource management.

Other partners include the International Marine Association - Indonesia, Department of Fishery and Explorations for Bali Province, Local Government, and Adat (Indigenous/Customary) Organizations. The project also involves volunteers such as professional divers, marine biologist, social scientists and business management practitioners.

6. Sustainability:
The last three years of the venture should suffice as the initial test of sustainability. The people of Les are proof of the spirit to change with or without external funding. They have shown an inspiring example of perseverance and resilience to cope with external factors that have affected their economy such as the Bali Bombing and SARS.

On financial sustainability: the trends show that the ornamental fish business has a good chance of survival once their reefs are healthy because the market of ornamental fish is stable. Records show that there is a consistent demand for ornamental fish in Bali and Indonesia. The international market is slowly moving to demand fair and responsible trade that values eco-friendly ornamental fish. Already the Les fishers group and the foundation undertake coral rehabilitation elsewhere in Bali. The community owned company, Bahtera LEstari, is in partnership with the local government and Public Work to rehabilitate coral in other area in Bali. The company sees looming opportunity to set consultancy business. With this recent project, Bahtera Lestari receive a project worth about US$ 10,000 for JICA-Supported project
“Bali Beach Conservation”.

Institutionally, the group has a strong foundation to work together with a tradition to elect their leaders. There is good practice of reporting activities and financial matters openly within the organization. Results of solid organizational skills can be seen in regular activities in the community/information center on the beach line and communal facilities as well as the community fish farm center.

Socially, the group consists of indigenous peoples of Bali with strong organizing culture. The fact that the disparity of social class and caste is not wide has helped better communication and bonding among group members. The group is now considering to change membership from the current individual member to one based on family membership, in which will not just be men considered as representing their household and not only men who can sit down in the meeting. The Distrcit Head of Tejakula has agreed to support all villages within its jurisdiction to replicate lessons from Les. The Province government already scheduled in their annual agenda to include lessons learned from Les to all villages in Bali.

Ecologically, with current initial data of coral growth and fish variety, it is hopeful that the initiative will help enhance species restocking. Although the current on the beach front of Les can be strong in some seasons, the underwater ecology is conducive for healthy coral growth as indicated by the initial growth rates, based on studies on the permanent transect of more than 100 substrate planted in 20 blocks. Low mortality of ornamental fish catch as result of new sustainable methods also helps reduce the pressure to catch more fish.

7. Gender:
The initiative of local communities to change the organizational structure and membership will affect gender relations in Les. Widows and single women will have more chance to be part of the fisher group and have the share within the community-owned company. Awareness regarding resource management as introduced during workshops to make eco-friendly fishing nets, coral planting, community-based resource mapping have involved girls and women (picture can be seen in www.sgp.or.id). So far, significant change toward gender equality has not been recorded but the group wishes to see that better coral ecosystem, fish catch and pricing will release women’s domestic burden and will send more girls to higher education.

 

[PeterIMA]

LOVE of THE NATURE, ADOPT THE CORAL
BE A CORAL ADOPTER!


Les Village is a fishermen village at Tejakula District north Bali, a fantastic little village with great sunset and sunrise.

Since early 80's the fishermen at Les have been harvesting marine ornamental fish. To catch the fish, they used Potassium Cyanide, the same method that is widely used in Indonesia until today.

The effect of Cyanide had destroyed their reef and poisoned the fish. The quality of fish was very bad, the mortality rate was very high, the price of the fish was very low. While in the early days, the fish population was still abundant. Time passed by and the condition changed. The reef was badly damaged and the fish population decreasing dramatically, while fishing is the only profession they can do.

In 2000, Bahtera Nusantara Foundation came into the village. They introduced an eco-friendly method to catch fish, and since then, the fishermen at Les commence the use of this net system to catch their fish. The result was excellent, soon they caught better fish and the degradation of their coral reef stopped.

Revolutionized catching method is the first step of the whole concept of Community Based Integrated Marine Eco Trading and Eco Tourism Management.

The whole entire concept are:

Stop the destructive fishing method
Apply Collection Area Management Plan (CAMP)
Coral reef rehabilitation
Provide alternative livelihood to the fishermen.
The end goal of this concept is to conserve the environment while maintain the livelihood of the people.

Les Village fishermen have formed a formal group among them. The group is “Mina Bhakti Soansari”. The group is responsible to apply the concept of the Community Based Integrated Marine Eco Trading and Eco Tourism Management.

Up till now, the first and the second steps of the concept have been successful. They are now at the third stage and moving to the fourth .

The coral rehabilitation was implemented but rather slow. Since today, the coral rehabilitation is self funded and some from the un regular donation from the guests that visit the site.

To be able to speed up their efforts to rehabilitate their coral, they have initiated an idea to let other people to adopt “their” coral. Therefore the “Adopt the Coral” project was formed.

The goals of “Adopt the Coral” project are :

Fund raising to be able to continue their coral rehabilitation project.
To allow other people to participate and create sense of belonging to their coral farming project.
Alternative livelihood to the fishermen rather than catching ornamental fish.
Build underwater coral garden for eco diving tourism.

Be part of the nature recovery………
It is the time for you to be part of nature recovery and enjoy your own
marine garden by being a coral adopter.

There are limited number of coral are ready to be
adopted for marine garden at Les Village
The coral is taken from the previously planted fragment and maintained by fishermen

For each coral adopted, the adopters name will be put on substrate.

picture of your planted coral on digital version file will be sent to your attention by email.
If you wish to have a printed picture delivered on your door,
please send us your inquiry and we will be happy to provide it.
We also provide pictures of growing corals during maintenance as an optional request.

Let everybody know that you are part of proud as Coral Adopter

For further information please contact [email protected]



Enjoy our Special Adopter Rate for any diving trip in Les Village

CORAL FARMING DIVING TRIP
Visit Les Village and dive the coral farming site. You can make a real contribution for the nature recovery and you can also dive in the protected area that is designated as the No-Catch Zone.

Air Diving Academy offers an extra ordinary dive trip called Love of The Nature - Adopt The Coral. Dive together with fishermen at Les Village do coral transplantation and watch the fishermen show you how to maintain their marine area.

In early 2000, Air Diving Academy worked together with a local environment NGO (Bahtera Nusantara) to change the fishing method of the people in Les Village. Starting with only 2 fishermen using the method, in 2002, every single fishermen in Les Village has adopted this environmental friendly catching method. Starting in 2003, the fishermen have also rehabilitated their catching area by forming a coral-farming group.

This effort is supported by:

Bahtera Nusantara Foundation
Air Diving Academy - Bali
GEF-SGP (Global Environment Facility Small Grant Program) UNDP
MAC (Marine Aquarium Council)
Since 2002, the fishermen in this village have implemented a sustainable catching system called the CAMP (Collection Area Management Plan). REEF Check International has agreed to help the people in the village to restore the fish population within the catching zone and also to help with the management of the CAMP. Les Village is nominated to receive 2004 Equator Award by UNDP and has been claimed as an UNDP Indonesia Program.



DIVE SITE HIGH LIGHT :
Location : Les Village, North Bali, 3 hours drive from Kuta
Depth : lies in about 8-9 meters
Condition : possible beach entry just approximately 20 meters off shore. Water is warm and calm
Visibility : approximately 15-20 m, good clarity to accelerate the coral growing
Temperature : approximately 28 C warm
Expectation : A wide variety of corals grow in this area, a majority being Acropora sp or stagehorn coral, and colorful small coral reef fish are abundant.

BOLOT REEF dive sites is about 10 minutes west of Coral Farming by small wooden boat. It offers beautiful reef to maximum depth of 35 meters. Healthy coral coverage of almost 99,9% as the result of the implementation of Marine Protected Area since 2002. The fragile coral and giant sponge dominates this area, lion fish, frog fish, cardinal, wrasse, anthias, giant grouper, gobies, blennies, eels, frog fish, stingrays and sometimes sharks, leaf fish and many other small colorful reef fish are many found here. Financial Contribution to the group of local fishermen will be part of your participation. Send your inquiry to [email protected] Best regards, Air Diving Academy - Bali

 

[PeterIMA]

Global Environment Facility - Small Grants Programme
Indonesia
United Nations Development Programme in Indonesia
November 2007

Project Focus: Restoring Coral Reefs and Promoting Sustainable Community Development
Climate change is having an adverse impact on the world’s coral reefs. Around one-half of the world’s coral reef systems have suffered ‘bleaching’ as a result of warming seas, with half of all systems in decline. The 50,000 square kilometers of coral reef in Indonesia, 18 percent of the world’s total, are deteriorating rapidly.
In light of this challenge, Les and Serangan villages in Bali devised their own initiatives to both restore local habitats and improve livelihoods. By planting donor coral taken from indigenous species of coral colonies, communities are working to rehabilitate the damaged coral in their areas. More than 15,000 pieces of 22 coral species are flourished on the Serangan beach floor.
Since the 1990s, Les has been known as a source of ornamental fish. In 2002, the fishermen abandoned the practice of using cyanide to fish, further protecting the coral ecosystems. Over 90 families of the local fishermen and women have formed their own collectives to rehabilitate the coral reefs, selling the ornamental fish that feed off these ecosystems.
The ornamental fish from Les village are now sold in nine countries across Asia, Europe and the United States. As a result of this successful example, several provinces across Indonesia-- including in the regions of Bali, West Java, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara and Papua-- have adopted policies and practices based on the Les and Serangan village example.

 

[PeterIMA]

Nomination Form for the Equator Prize 2004

The Story of
BLOOMING CORAL FARM, ECO-FRIENDLY ORNAMENTAL FISH
AND INSPIRING PEOPLE OF LES VILLAGE, BALI

1. Nme of group or organization being nominated:
Kelompok Nelayan Mina Bhakti Soansari (Mina Bhakti Soansari Fisherfolk Gro
· contact person(s) foup) in collaboration with Bahtera Nusantara Foundation.

2. Nominees are best described as:
· Community-based organization
· Community-based entrepreneurl nitiative
· Indigenous group
· Non-governmental organization

3. Initiative description and innovations:
The main goal of this initiative is to support the Les villagers' initiative to stop detrimental methods of fishing. The village has 200 active fishermen with 110 who live from collecting and selling ornamental fish. In the 1980s the ornamental fishermen switched to the use of cyanide to catch ornamental fish around the north coast of Bali and as far as South East Sulawesi (part of Wakatobi Marine National Park). According to the elders, 30 years ago the coral reef in front of Les village used to be rich with numerous fish and coral species. Over time, the fishers of Les notice that they have to sail longer and further to collect a harvest of ornamental fish. The women wait on the beach ready with buckets to help transfer the fish to holding tanks before transport to Denpasar and airfreight export. These women also testify to the decrease in the fish catch including fish for eating. With less fish available to eat or sell, the villagers spend much more of their income on buying food compared to a two decade ago. School fees and transport costs are getting more expensive, creating economic pressure on the already poor village.

Creative and Innovative initiatives:
Rather than waiting for government aid to help reduce hardship, the community started to organize themselves and plan how they could improve their own life through environmental betterment. With the help of ProMola-Telapak (a Bogor-based network of marine ecosystem awareness) and Bahtera Nusantara (a Sanur-based non-government organization), the community embarked on learning-by-doing awareness activities that led them to sustainable fishing practices. Started with informal discussions and workshops about coral and fish-friendly nets, the villagers and Bahtera Nusantara Foundation collaborated to develop a series of sustainable fishing techniques and reef restoration activities. All discussions and planning sought wide participation of community members, both men and women, and budgets and proposals are available to all to read.
With increased knowledge of changes in market demand, the fishers are able to target their fishing to the species with the best prices. Fishers from Les continue to sell their ornamental fish to the same local intermediary shops but with better price and bargaining power. This initial improvement has increased their self-confidence, so that now they plan to sell ornamental fish directly to stores and end customers abroad. Various interests from foreign buyers were expressed to the community?s company since its establishment in the late 2002. Trading in general, however, has not recovered yet as result from Bali bombing trauma and SARS.
The coral farming activity, however, is thriving. The simple method of coral restoration involve cutting off small pieces of live coral from healthy reefs, and tying these pieces onto a rock or piece of rubble. The coral farming has generated interest from hotels in the neighborhood and other villages who want to restore their coral reefs. This reaction has incited idea to cultivate and trade coral in sustainable way.

To give a better picture of the initiative, here is the list of the ecological threats as defined by the villagers in the initial phase of the project:
· destructive fishing using cyanide that killed and degraded coral reefs in Les
· the use of bomb fishing in the past, which destroyed fish and reefs
· over-fishing
· coral mining for construction materials
· anchoring activities (by villagers or by tourists from surrounding hotels)
· lack of awareness among villagers about the importance of healthy coral reef and healthy ecosystems around their village in general
· lack of law enforcement (destructive fishers got away without sanctions)
· land conversion into resort buildings (lack of access to the beach and more landless people that increase the pressure to extract more from limited natural resources in semi-arid and poor areas of Tejakula).
The overall goal of the project is healthy coral reefs and a sustainable livelihood in ornamental fish for the community of Les, Tejakula, Bali.

The main activities include:
§ Restoration of coral reef habitat along areas of Les beach (about 1,5 km)
§ Creation of a model of a sustainable ornamental fishery
§ Improvement of community's livelihood through eco-trading
§ Improvement of awareness and knowledge of local people in coral reef ecosystem management

At present, together with Bahtera Nusantara Foundation and volunteers, the Les villagers have achieved the following results:
· community based mapping (villagers have produced a basic village map/boundaries; a land use map; a habitat map along the beach line; a resource map; and a donor/mother coral maps). Method of data collection: Participatory Rural Appraisal; GIS map.
· 20 degraded reef blocks were established with 50 pieces of coral each by November 2002). This number has doubled today. The rate of growth has been monitored closely (after about 3 weeks, the Porites genus has already grown and integrated into the substrate).
· coral and fish community-based biological monitoring using Manta tow technique and Lite Intercept Transect.
· preparation of coral restoration modules, negotiated with neighboring villages for replication with support from Department of Fishery of Bali. Communities of Wakatobi Marine National Park in South East Sulawesi have expressed interest in replicating the Les model.
· PT Bahtera Lestari is established and running (with democratic company structure and sound business analysis).
· Fish farm building for ornamental fish (75% finished) with 90 units of aquarium (100x50x40 cm each); 190 watt aerator ; two 500 watt pumps.
· 280 m of pipelines to ensure regular water flow for fish farm.
· The company is on its way to install other equipment such as a packing facility, computers, more reliable electricity system, communication means in Les.
4. Poverty Reduction:
This community-based initiative has provided incentives for the youth to stay or return to the village rather than migrating to urban areas. The company is starting to give training for other local communities to run their own business as part of access and control to their own resources. It is too early to say that this project can solve all the economic problems of Les, but for almost a year since the project was formally launched, the local communities have enjoyed improvements to their community center, better information flow regarding markets, better relations with customary as well as formal government at all levels.

To quantify the improvement of income, the prices of ornamental fish from Les have already increased, as indicated in their price list. A social economic survey is underway by a graduate student and is expected to produce analysis soon. It is important to notice that the community, through this project, can start to send the boys and girls to school and start saving for the future.

5. Biodiversity Impacts:
The coral restoration conducted by Les and the cyanide-free fishing practiced is now a part of Les customary law, as the community vowed to ban cyanide and any form of destructive fishing in Les village. A year ago, it was hard to find more than a few species live coral, but recently, a Denpasar-based dive operator has started to bring divers to look at the blooming ocean and the community-based coral restoration project.

More rigorous indicators for biological monitoring to track coral reef growth in size and diversity is being designed and tested through community-based coral and fish monitoring. Two fishermen mentioned that the variety and quality of fish has increased slightly since the last six months (look at the attached list of species and price list). Coral monitoring in November 2002 conducted in three sites between 3m and 10 m depth shows a low percentage of live corals. About 18% of corals were alive at 3 m depth and 25% of corals were alive at 10 m. This will be an important base line to monitor changes in biodiversity in the Les coastal area.

6. Combined Impact:
The initiative has resulted in both betterment of life quality and environment as described above. Intensive awareness programs have brought better understanding about conserving resources for future generations. The imparting of technical knowledge to monitor corals and fish has strengthened the project resulting in a common agreement to protect the fishing grounds and the coral reefs from destructive practices. The community understands that a healthy ecosystem of coral reef will guarantee diversity of sea creatures including coral and ornamental fish. The conservation of the coral reef and wise fishing practices will increase revenues today and into the future. If the fishermen do not have to sail so far or dive too often, then their families will have less need to borrow money and less expenditure to send the fishermen suffering from decompression sickness to hospital.

Approaches, techniques and tools employed during the preparation and implementation of the project:
§ Informal approach by community organizers even before the conception of the project. The director of the foundation who is a marine biologist and Pro-Mola activists started to visit the village two years before the villagers embarked on the initiative to change their destructive fishing method. During those two years, the community built trust and enhanced awareness of the need to take collective action to repair their environment and improve their fishing methods.
§ Participatory program development and budgeting. This process helped the community to monitor the implementation of the activities and helped develop the practice of accountability and transparency that is crucial for successful biodiversity resource governance and management.
§ Participatory rural appraisal and community-based mapping exercises for data collection and tools for participatory planning. The GIS based map is a powerful tool for the local community helping them to participate actively in government decision-making process affecting the development and resource extraction method in their village.
§ Community-based biological monitoring with simple methods involving marine biologists and master divers (on-going). This is important for the community to see their marine resource from conservation perspective. The growth and beauty of the coral garden boosts appreciation and willingness to protect.
§ Social-economic survey through participatory research method (on-going). This is an important exercise for local communities to know their own socio-economic conditions first hand and helps them to develop a sustainable index of resource extraction.
§ Revolving fund as seed capital for community-based development.
§ Multi-stakeholders policy dialogue to create synergy and ensure support from government, public leaders and customary government. So far, this approach has brought together key actors from government, private sector and community to discuss the situation in Les and how they can move on with mutually beneficial efforts; to provide opportunities for discussing conflicts of interest and barriers to future policy development toward sustainable resource management.

7. Partnerships:
Mina Bhakti Soansari Fisher Group:
The group is supported by 67 ornamental fishers who are the main actors for implementation. Members have mobilized their community of men and women, boys and girls, to participate in coral farming, education and awareness activities in the community centers and in the temples. The mapping exercise would not be possible without full participation from the group and community of Les at large.

Bahtera Nusantara Foundation
Including Indonesian activists from non-Balinese community, the foundation has won the hearts of Les people. This is the key to enable the group to help further with capacity building and technical aspect of the initiative. The group helps strengthen community initiative to link the community with pertinent government bodies, the business community and with communities facing the similar poverty and ecological challenges in other villages and islands. The group has successfully facilitated policy dialogue, resource mobilization, market access, and business linkages.


ProMola-Telapak and Dive Operator
This is an important volunteer and resource pool for marketing, information dissemination and linkages in community-based resource management. With the help of ProMola, outreach productions of the program have received help from various volunteers, bringing in the right expertise at the right time. The dive operator also helps the initiative by promoting the area as site for tourism.

GEF-SGP Indonesia
SGP Indonesia took the opportunity to support the Les initiative as an example of a creative and innovative approach to biodiversity conservation conducted by local communities.

Marine Aquarium Council
In an attempt to obtain recognition from international certifiers, the project collaborates with the Marine Aquarium Council. To ensure that their fishing grounds along the route from Les to Matinggola is also cyanide free, some fishers from Les have launched an environmental awareness programme to inform fellow fishermen to stop destructive fishing activities. The fishers network along the fisherfolk villages gradually move on to knowledge sharing about sustainable practices and protection in communities? fishing ground as part of sustainable marine resource management.

Other partners include the International Marine Association - Indonesia, Department of Fishery and Explorations for Bali Province, Local Government, and Adat (Indigenous/Customary) Organizations. The project also involves volunteers such as professional divers, marine biologist, social scientists and business management practitioners.

8. Sustainability:
The last three years of the venture should suffice as the initial test of sustainability. The people of Les are proof of the spirit to change with or without external funding. They have shown an inspiring example of perseverance and resilience to cope with external factors that have affected their economy such as the Bali Bombing and SARS.

On financial sustainability: the trends show that the ornamental fish business has a good chance of survival once their reefs are healthy because the market of ornamental fish is stable. Records show that there is a consistent demand for ornamental fish in Bali and Indonesia. The international market is slowly moving to demand fair and responsible trade that values eco-friendly ornamental fish. Already the Les fishers group and the foundation undertake coral rehabilitation elsewhere in Bali. The recent coral rehabilitation project in Tejakula include a JICA-supported project ?Bali Beach Conservation project (a project worth equivalent to US $ 10,000).

Institutionally, the group has a strong foundation to work together with a tradition to elect their leaders. There is good practice of reporting activities and financial matters openly within the organization. Results of solid organizational skills can be seen in regular activities in the community/information center on the beach line and communal facilities as well as the community fish farm center.

Socially, the group consists of indigenous peoples of Bali with strong organizing culture. The fact that the disparity of social class and caste is not wide has helped better communication and bonding among group members. The group is now considering to change membership from the current individual member to one based on family membership, in which will not just be men considered as representing their household and not only men who can sit down in the meeting. The Distrcit Head of Tejakula has agreed to support all villages within its jurisdiction to replicate lessons from Les. The Province government already scheduled in their annual agenda to include lessons learned from Les to all villages in Bali.

Ecologically, with current initial data of coral growth and fish variety, it is hopeful that the initiative will help enhance species restocking. Although the current on the beach front of Les can be strong in some seasons, the underwater ecology is conducive for healthy coral growth as indicated by the initial growth rates, based on studies on the permanent transect of more than 100 substrate planted in 20 blocks. Low mortality of ornamental fish catch as result of new sustainable methods also helps reduce the pressure to catch more fish.





9. Gender:
The initiative of local communities to change the organizational structure and membership will affect gender relations in Les. Widows and single women will have more chance to be part of the fisher group and have the share within the community-owned company. Awareness regarding resource management as introduced during workshops to make eco-friendly fishing nets, coral planting, community-based resource mapping have involved girls and women (picture can be seen in www.sgp.or.id). So far, significant change toward gender equality has not been recorded but the group wishes to see that better coral ecosystem, fish catch and pricing will release women's domestic burden and will send more girls to higher education.




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[Anonymous]

Gresham, I have no control over what transpired between you and Ruwi. We did explain that the facility in Les shut down for a variety of reasons that I don't need to discuss. No funds from hobbyists went to Telapak in the past. So, I am not sure that Telapak needs to explain anything to you or to Thales.

If a proposal is submitted it is normal to know who the potential funder actually is. You have implied something about a club, but never stated which one. Thales has not provided any information.

Accusations and threats don't seem to me to be a good beginning. EASTI will provide information as soon as it is appropriate. But, I don't think that providing the names of companies buying fish from Les and Serangan is a fair requirement.

As far as I know, hobbyists have contributed some hand netting through Mary Middlebrook. Ferdinand is still giving it away to collectors. Other than that, as far a Know, there never was any other funding provided by hobbyists to any of the programs run by either Telapak or EASTI.

So, if hobbyists want to contribute, fine. But, if there are too many strings,
I am confident that Telapak and EASTI can obtain the funding elsewhere.

Thank you,
Peter Rubec

Please reread all my posts and find exactly where I said money had been given to either of those NGO's by hobbyists?

I'm glad you can find money elsewhere but I wonder why you asked Thales where to send the proposal to if you didn't need the money?


I am not asking anything of Telepak or Easti. I stated that since they aren't showing where the fish are being sold, or where people can purchase them or support them, the pilot project is doomed to fail. Keeping it a secret is a just another nail in the coffin.

Accusations and threats don't seem to me to be a good beginning. EASTI will provide information as soon as it is appropriate. But, I don't think that providing the names of companies buying fish from Les and Serangan is a fair requirement.

Threats, accusations? What? Did I theaten or accuse? Where? Requirement? Where did anyone mention that was a requirement?

I'm typing in english, are you?

Care to answer those questions Peter?

 

[PeterIMA]

Thales and Gresham, I think we have discussed this enough. I don't see any questions in your last posting that have not already been dealt with.

Peter

 

[Anonymous]

Thales and Gresham, I think we have discussed this enough. I don't see any questions in your last posting that have not already been dealt with.

Peter

I find your attitude to be very off putting for someone who expressed interest in having someone volunteer to try to raise money for your organization.

FWIW, Steve R has already sent me most of the information I need to move forward on his needs. He even thanked me for my effort.

 

[PeterIMA]

Thales, Thats OK. I wish Steve every success.

Peter

 

[Anonymous]

Thales and Gresham, I think we have discussed this enough. I don't see any questions in your last posting that have not already been dealt with.

Peter

Your wrong, but I can see you:

1. will never answer any question I ask
2. are the wrong person to be the PR for EASTI and TELEPAK.
3. your giving Telepak and EASTI and black eye

I wish Telepak and EASI all the bestand I highly suggest they rethink who they let speak for them.

 

[PeterIMA]

Gresham, You don't represent anyone (except maybe the MAC). I have been probed by various people and insulted repeatedly by you and Thales. So, I don't think you need further information other than what has already been provided by Ferdinand and myself.

Peter Rubec

 

[Anonymous]

Gresham, You don't represent anyone (except maybe the MAC). I have been probed by various people and insulted repeatedly by you and Thales. So, I don't think you need further information other than what has already been provided by Ferdinand and myself.

Peter Rubec

AM I supposed to feel like dirt now because I don't represent any NGOs?

Good one, run into a hole rather then answer questions. Hmm, EASTI and TELEPAK seem a lot like the old MAC.

Getting any answers out of you is like believing in Bigfoot.

 

[Anonymous]

Gresham, You don't represent anyone (except maybe the MAC). I have been probed by various people and insulted repeatedly by you and Thales. So, I don't think you need further information other than what has already been provided by Ferdinand and myself.

Peter Rubec

I insulted you in this thread? Where? It was not my intention, so if you would point it out I could clarify or avoid the same thing in the future.

 

[clarionreef]

Hey
That bigfoot photo does look pretty convincing.
Look at the tight skin and musculature over the thigh and calf.
Steve

 

[Anonymous]

Hey
That bigfoot photo does look pretty convincing.
Look at the tight skin and musculature over the thigh and calf.
Steve

Little known fact is, Big Foot uses tools to capture prey. Here he is seen with hand net in tow on his way to the river.

 

[PeterIMA]

It looks like Bigfoot is using a handnet with the wrong netting material.
Without the ability to understand local customs and without knowledge of local dialects spoken by humans in Indonesia and PI, foreign NGOs face debacle. That is why CCIF, MAC, and Reefcheck have failed.

Peter

 

[Anonymous]

It looks like Bigfoot is using a handnet with the wrong netting material.
Without the ability to understand local customs and without knowledge of local dialects spoken by humans in Indonesia and PI, foreign NGOs face debacle. That is why CCIF, MAC, and Reefcheck have failed.

Peter

:lol: That photo of a hand net is from a hand net built at Les from Ferdie supplied netting. Keen eye you got there for netting Peter. Reconizing the real deal as a fake :lol: