Bali’s Nusa Penida area is a favorite destination for both foreign and local tourists. However, a video shows that tourists’ actions damage coral reefs in Nusa Penida.
While Nusa Penida is undeniably a top choice for tourists in Bali, its popularity has come at a cost, with the underwater coral reefs suffering significant damage.
Diving activities can damage coral reefs, for example, due to the actions of naughty divers’ carelessness that causes damaged coral reefs.
In a video uploaded by the Instagram account @elinebythesea, a diver appears to have scribbled the words “Yan 2024” on a coral reef.
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Damage to coral reefs, in the short term, will have a direct impact on marine tourism. In addition, the impact on habitats is pressure for the animals. Animals that depend on these ecosystems can be stressed and even leave to other areas.
It’s important to remember that coral reefs take years to grow. Therefore, any deliberate damage, whether it’s graffiti or trampling, cannot be quickly repaired.
The public certainly still remembers the findings of coral reefs scribbled by divers around 2016, which went viral and attracted the attention of the national and international community.
At that time, photos widely circulated on Facebook and Instagram showing coral reefs scrawled with names such as Phey Lym, Miya, and 33 Baby. The rest were in Chinese characters.
Foreign media, such as those from Hong Kong and Taiwan, reported the vandalism and deplored the disgraceful act.
Coral reef restoration in Nusa Penida Bali
Currently, the independent and non-profit foundation Coral Triangle Center (CTC) Denpasar, Bali, is collecting data on the condition of coral reefs in the Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area from 2008 to 2024.
In Nusa Penida, the restoration method involves installing an iron container shaped like a star or reef star. The container is coated with sand to ensure the coral fragments stick well.
Although there are restoration efforts, these steps take a long time, so don’t commit acts of vandalism against coral reefs in Nusa Penida!
