Saving Raja Ampat

Dear Undercurrent,

I read the recent article in Undercurrent concerning coral bleaching in Raja Ampat.

Whilst on a 10-day liveaboard trip in the area recently, we were fortunate to have Jack Burns give us a presentation on the recent work carried out by Dr. Phil Dunstan in Raja Ampat and the Dampier Straits, giving a different perspective.

The species-specific coral beaching was only evident in the Dampier Straits and not generally evident in other areas. The Dampier Straits are one of the most marinediverse reef systems on the planet due to the confluence of two of the major ocean currents. Where the currents collide, the nutrients become trapped, thus benefiting the marine environment. However, pollutants are also trapped in this way.

Dr. Dunstan's research, backed by comprehensive statistics, showed that tourism, and as a consequence, the local population, have increased exponentially, vastly increasing wastewater and human sewage, which ends up in the sea, either directly from liveaboards or on-land septic tanks. These pollutants are trapped and concentrated in the Dampier Strait, causing coral bleaching. [Don't think it's all doom and gloom. The same conditions that make the area so vulnerable make it an amazing location for recovery.]

The positive aspect is that there are local solutions. Max Ammer at Sorido Resort on Kri Island has developed wastewater treatment using plants and natural filtration. Jack Burns has successfully developed a system of treatment at his homestay that even uses waste in his food production. These systems could be scaled up to serve villages and homestays if they received adequate funding. Alex Bryant, CEO of Emperor Divers, is looking into equipping liveaboards with treatment plants.

With enough publicity from the diving press and support from the international diving community, perhaps investment could be found to preserve this truly precious environment and a sustainable future for tourism and the local population.

-- Tony Backhurst

(former owner of Scuba Travel, a UK diving tour operator)