Papua, "I FOUND the paradise," said Esther. Express the admiration of tourists Dutch origin its pronounced for this natural beauty in the area of Raja Ampat Islands, Papua.
Similar to Esther, Michael Sjukrie, a dive instructor and photographer in the bottom of the sea in the expedition team also revealed his admiration with water under Raja Ampat archipelago.
According to the man who has dived in various places in Indonesia and abroad, the bottom of the sea in the Raja Ampat Islands are stunning. "I found three sea horses that have not been in other places. Its coral reefs also very good, such as the garden under the sea," he said.
Indeed, the sea around the Raja Ampat Islands are rich with marine organisms and coral reefs inhabited by the native of Indonesia.
The islands included in this triangle Coral (Coral Triangle), which consists of Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Japan, and Australia. Coral Triangle area is known as the area that has the richest marine biodiversity in the world.
The condition of coral reefs in Raja Ampat 60% in very good condition and has a combination of the diversity of coral and fish the best. Conversely, 17% natural coral reef ugly conditions, but located in a hidden cove mud is high levels of precipitation.
In addition, the island that has a broad approximately 43,000 km2 was also found 828 species of reef fish. Researchers estimate there are at least 1084 species of fish in the archipelago of 44 islands have this.
Coral formation in the Dampier, which is located between the north island and south island Batanta Waigeo-Gam, the area is very rich fish species karangnya.
Expedition team had to do research in it. Widodo Pranowo, expedition team members who work for the Department of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries said the condition of the Raja Ampat Islands are still influenced by the mass of water from the West Pacific Ocean (Western Pacific Ocean). This shows there is a flow moves from the east to the northeast and parallel with the mainland of Papua (Mainland) northbound.
"When arriving at the Halmahera Sea or Raja Ampat in the northern part of the flow is moving to the south will enter the flow Cruises Jailolo and most of the others will turn the direction toward the Pacific Ocean again. Cash is what is known as the Halmahera Eddy. We also suspect that when Flow Halmahera Eddy before arriving at the Halmahera Sea, there is a small part of the Dampier to enter the curve, "he said.
According to Widodo, the fertility level in the Raja Ampat is very good, as evidenced by the number of large fish such as fish plankton eater Manta Ray, and some types of whales.
Meanwhile, members of the other research team, Andreas A Hutahean the Raja Ampat archipelago is very popular with the diversity of fish karangnya the highest in the world.
There are over 1084 species of fish found in this region, which is a line divided into three major groups of the dominant, that is, the gobi fish (Gobiidae), damsel fishes (Pomacentridae), and fish maming (Labridae).
Specific to the type of Pomacentridae Indonesia, Raja Ampat, especially, has the highest diversity in the world, followed by Papua New Guinea, Australia, Thailand, Fiji Islands, and Maldives.
Coral reef ecosystems in Raja Ampat, according to Andreas, the same as the sea which is the other open areas oligotropik (poor or elements burly nutrien). However, a unique, ecosystem Terumbu karangnya much higher compared with other open sea.
According to Andreas, this situation had become a mystery for several decades. "Why regions burly of the poor can have a high biodiversity number two in the world in the tropical forest in the Amazone, Brasil?"
Andreas said it is due to the nature of the coral reef ecosystem that nature may have to manage their own food for the organisms-organisms in the ecosystem are active.
Andreas cite, in the morning found the thick layer of mucus on the surface or in the water near the beach. In fact mucus is rich in protein and burly elements. "Safeguard mucus that turns this into a source of food for the plankton in the area of coral reefs. So the food chain from the producer level (plankton) to consumer-level top-level (carnivora fish / meat eater) met," he said.
Based on the results of measurements, the condition of the King of the Four has a very good condition, in which salinitasnya ranges from 33-34 PSU. Then the surface temperature ranges between 28 degrees Celsius at a certain depth to 27 degrees Celsius. Then the penetration of sunlight can reach up to 30-37 meters. "This is causing coral reefs can grow well," he said.
Although famous as a place of rich diversity hayatinya, expedition team found the impact of excessive fishing. "Fish or napoleon maming often used as indicators of the amount of fishing, we rarely met during the dive," he said.
In addition, in the area that has 48,707 inhabitants, there is also found signs of damage to the habitat. Damage is due to how the fish with bombs or poison.
According to the people around, catching fish in a way that was initially conducted by fishermen from outside Papua. But now there is a local son do this, because the way of making bombs or poisons have been mastered.
In addition to catching the environmental damage, illegal logging also occurs d reserve area on the island Waigeo. In fact Raja Ampat has a large potential for the development of land and sea tour.
The uniqueness of the world under the sea and the forest in the area is kept as a threat from the destruction of nature. Be pitied if the very heaven of the world is destroyed for the sake of right.
(source: media indonesia)
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