Nusa Penida is a short boat ride from the east-side of Bali, Indonesia, located within the Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area (“MPA”). This area was established to conserve the islands’ ecosystems and promote economic opportunities for the community.

With the support of Warner Music, SeaTrees has partnered with local Balinese nonprofit, Ocean Gardener, to restore and monitor 2000m2 of coral reef. 20+ Balinese people are employed to work on this project and the local community and temple are engaged to support and oversee the longer term success of the restored reef.

Ocean Gardener restores the reef in Ped, Nusa Penida with a diverse range of coral that provides habitat for the region’s 500+ species of reef fish, a few of which are new to science. Based on a Marine Megafauna Foundation study, two species of manta ray, the oceanic manta (Mobula birostris) and reef manta (Mobula alfredi) are found within the Nusa Penida MPA. These species are currently listed as vulnerable to extinction on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Endangered Species.

The process:

Coral fragments are harvested from a pre-established nursery and placed onto organic rope lines. After 4-5 months, once the corals have attached to the line and started to grow, the line is removed from the nursery, lift bags (bags filled with air) are attached, and the lines are transported to a boat by a snorkelling team. The boat crew will carry the lines to the restoration site, and drop them slowly to the ocean floor. Once there, the transplantation team, using scuba equipment, large staples, and cement, will directly secure the lines to the ocean floor.

Why restore this site?

The reef has been destroyed in this specific location due to years of diving/tourist pontoons that were moored in the area and the large concrete blocks they were once fixed to were dragged across the reef during strong currents. Climate change and ecosystem imbalance also impact the reefs in Bali, as have ad hoc seaweed farming practices employed in the past.

In 2014, the area was officially recognized as a MPA. This puts in place a clear and regulated plan for the long term management and protection of the ocean ecosystem surrounding Nusa Penida.