by Steve Morris, President SEA Reef Relief
My wife and I took our two teenagers to Manado for a diving holiday over the long ‘97 Mayday weekend. We wanted our children to enjoy the pelagic sea life fabled to be prolific at Bunaken Island Reef. Instead were greeted by some rather ordinary diving by our Asian standards -- I began to wonder where all the Dive Magazines got there photos and incredible stories from.
While back at Murex Dive Resort, I asked the owner, Dr. Batuna, where to find the pelagics. He expressed his deep concern that the numbers of large pelagics was on an obvious decline. We overheard a rather distraught fellow tourist cum diver, Robin Marinos, at the adjacent lunch table sharing some rather horrific details of a large scale netting operation along the migratory path of cetaceans and pelagics in the nearby Lembeh Straits. Inside informants reported a 10 1/2 month catch of: 1,457 Mantas, 577 pilot whales, 789 Marlin, 326 sharks, 326 dolphins, 84 turtles, 9 dugong -- all of which are destroyed for commercial gain by a few local businessmen and their Taiwanese joint venture partners. Others were heard to be taking advantage of the lax enforcement of environmental regulations in the area and were harvesting the reefs at night and we even heard of plans to build hotel lodging virtually on top of the once famous Bunaken Wall Reef. Now I know you can't believe everything you hear but Robin filmed the net operation while they netted, definned, sectioned, and ultimately slaughtered a whaleshark within 100 meters of the Tangkoko Nature Reserve.
The extent of the ten-month catch was ample explanation to at least some of the pelagic decline. I have been diving for 4 years in SE Asia and have only seen 6 or so giant mantas -- to hear of nearly 1,500 being caught by one net within 10 months left me in shock! I decided then and there that I could not leave Manado without offering my help in whatever form that could take. Robin, after witnessing these events, tried to bring them to the attention of local authorities with little initial success. I promised Robin to get what information we had out to the Asian Dive Exhibition and Conference (ADEC) in Singapore May 15-19. In fact I offered to put him up at our house if he wanted to come make a plea for help to ADEC attendees directly -- which he did with the help of local supporters in Suluwesi who paid for his airfare to Singapore. Even then I began to sense the existence of people trying to fight behind the scenes, unable openly support.
On very short notice and with the help of Helen Newman, Operation Wallacea, and Chua Sek Chuan of the Singapore Nature Society, Marine Division, we were able to secure exhibition space to promote awareness of the facts -- Despite resistance from the Conference Organizers, Miller Freeman, who felt that this was "too downbeat for the reef environmentalism theme of ADEC -- whales, dolphins, whale sharks, rays, etc. all being indiscriminately caught and brutally butchered (de-finned, and sectioned while alive as shown on the eyewitness video taken within 100m of Tangkoko Reserve's shoreline!). Even Dive Asia Magazine the main ADEC co-sponsor, could only offer referrals to others who might help as they were not a "environmental magazine".
With what I though would initially mobilize the entire dive community in action became the "cause" of a handful of truly concerned environmentalists. The divide between commercial interests and personal interests where it comes to environmental issues was becoming all to clear by now -- but I have to admit I was surprised that it ran so deep in the diving community.
We shared what info we had all the while meeting many concerned people who have been trying to help from all segments of the Dive Community -- Divers, Magazine Editors and Resort Operators. I must say however that the fear and apathy quotient outnumbered the outrage component 2 to 1! Lots of exhibitors at ADEC only care about selling their product and feel no responsibility to protecting the source of their own wealth -- As Barry Brisco, Asian Diver Magazine Editor commented -- "They don't get it do they... The only reason people dive is to see the marine life, not to breathe compressed air and stare at empty space. Without the fish they would have no business!" People who I had heard talk big on the environment before were now silent for fear of reprisals (suspension of licenses, visas, and even physical harm).
We did manage to get a fact sheet delivered to guest speakers Admiral Sodomo (Ret., Indonesia), Kal Mueller, and Jean Michelle Cousteau. Robin even took to the stage for a 45 minute eyewitness account of a whaleshark capture and while his video tape played in the background. Of the thousands of people who attended the ADEC tradeshow, only 50 or so attended the Individual Environmental Presentations. We collected 350 signatures to a petition of concern later forwarded to the Indonesian Minister of Environment, Sarowono. People noticed and some people cared enough to pledge their support to stopping these destructive and depletive fishing practices. Sadly though, the social, political, economic, and practical issues far outweigh the environmental issues at stake despite the obvious concern shared by the Indonesian Officials.
By now I realized that I was one of the few people out the thousands and thousands of reef-related users (of any kind -- good and bad) that really gave a damn about preserving and protecting the marine life in this part of the world. Of course I am discovering everyday that I am less and less alone in this effort. There are many good-hearted people working one angle or the other try to help their own chosen local environmental cause as well as this one, But we are vastly outnumbered. Seeing the reef life disappear and reef conditions continually decline over the last 4 years I am personally moved to act on their behalf as well as on the behalf of my children, their children, and theirs, to do what I can in my capacity as a businessman, community leader, and diving enthusiast.
We took the message of the Nets to the WW Net and established contacts with several dedicated NGOs who have in turn taken the info to their networks. Our effort got a real shot in the arm when William Rossiter, Cetacean Society International, put out a personal appeal for information and assistance. Scientists, environmentalists, NGOs members, and ordinary citizens from around the world have contributed their knowledge, eyewitness accounts, energies, and/or simply their commitment of support. To formalize our effort we have bannered our local efforts under the name "S.E.A. Reef Relief".
********************** SEA Reef Relief Mission Statement ********************
SEA Reef Relief is committed to the protection and preservation of
coral reef formations and marine life in SE Asia. We recognize that the
reefs of SEA are home to infinite numbers of living marine creatures and
play a vital role in the ocean's ecosystem. Also, reefs play an
important part in the sustainable development strategies of developing
nations and can only sustain "ecotourist" dollars while there are
reef life to see and enjoy in their natural surroundings. As the number
of Scuba divers visiting SEA Reefs continues to increase dramatically,
we believe that the pressure on sustaining the integrity of these
delicate ecosystems will come under increasing and severe threat.
We also believe that first-hand reef appreciation ultimately leads to
long term reef preservation so while we encourage diver visitation to
reefs, we must also make an extra effort to educate and train divers as
to their impact on the environment as well as to train them how to
minimize that impact.
SEA Reef Relief supports efforts to educate divers, dive operators, and
resorts, which provide dive operator services, as to the fragile nature of
the marine ecosystem and the delicate nature of the reef itself. SEA
Reef Relief promotes safe and environmentally friendly diving, boating,
and fishing practices so as to minimize the adverse impact on the reef
ecosystem. Of course, devastational fishing practices such as cyanide,
bombing and reef netting are considered criminal and willfully
negligent.
SEA Reef Relief actively campaigns against migratory fishing, the
taking of pelagic and marine mammal bycatch, and the hunting, fishing,
and trade of exotic marine species.
SEA Reef Relief commits itself to preserving our neighboring reefs for
our children and their children to enjoy, admire and respect the natural
beauty and heritage that is encompassed in the marine reef
ecosystem..... Come join our effort .. Let’s get wet, together!
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A Web Home page for SEA Reef Relief was organized by a local Web Page designer, Jeffrey Schone at: http://www.focus-asia.com/home/fejj/.
Peter J. Bryant began to assemble the bits of information as they were coming together on another web site hosted by the University of California, Irvine, Their web site is used by students in the Interdisciplinary Minor in Global Sustainability: http://mamba.bio.uci.edu/~pjbryant/bio65/indon97e.htm.
Currently we are trying to collect additional information and enlarge and deepen our network. We will also continue to raise awareness to the issues of migratory fishing, reef destruction, coral fish depletion, marine mammal bycatch, and possible extinction of some endangered and vulnerable species -- dugongs, sea turtles, whale sharks, etc. Through the good offices of Friends of the Earth International, we were able to bring these matters to attention at the recently held CITES, in Zimbabwe.
While the immediate threat of the Tangkoko Nets has been removed, the ongoing threats to this area are still very real. Bunaken Marine Park has fallen siege to a wrath of "ecotourist"-related assaults -- Jet skiing over the reef, anchoring on the reef, spearfishing and netting, live shell collecting, and the inevitable sprouting up of beach bungalows, cafes, and dive operators. There are even plans to build a 100 room Hotel overlooking the Park Office. All of this on a small island without even a proper wastebin on the public beach and despite existing restrictions on any further development of the island since the Park's establishment in 1992!
If unabated, the reefs of Manado and their accompanying marine life including migratory whales, dolphins, and manta rays will face a certain decline. It is indeed ironic that Manado is the host site of the "Ecotourism & Marine Ecology Conference, 1-4th July 1997." While 5-10-15 years of operation may be enough for some to get what money they can from the reefs here, future generations will be forced to pay the price of unsustainable, uncontrolled ecotourism.
Of course there are no easy answers, nor is there plenty of time to address these issues. I am urging everyone I can to do what they can to help raise awareness and to restrict devastation and to find long-term sustainable approaches to ecotourism development. Your pledge of support would be greatly appreciated as would any offer of help and or information. Please direct them to:
Steve Morris
President, S.E.A. Reef Relief
haysteve@pacific.net.sg
Steve is an avid dive enthusiast living and working in Singapore with his wife, Sharon and four children: Ryan (Rescue Diver), Kaelen (AOW Diver), and Allison and Devon (Snorkelers). Steve is currently a PADI Divemaster and hopes to complete his instructor rating this August. In addition to his environmental and diving interests, Steve serves as Vice-President, American Club, Singapore an is an International Partner in HayGroup where he is currently Managing Director, Hay Management Consultants (Singapore) specializing in Leadership Development and Organizational Improvement.