Agony and Ecstasy

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No matter the obstacles, every positive effort can reap great rewards      This adage also holds true in Komodo.  Since their involvement with an effort to preserve this sensitive biosphere there has been a noticable change within the marine park boundaries.  Throughout this trip there were seldom any sightings of destructive fishing being carried out and the negative effects of the past insults are, indeed, fading.
     Nearly every dive site appeared healthy and thriving.  Though there were signs of past dynamite fishing and coral formations that had been damaged by cyanide there were also amazing examples of rebirth in those locations.  The macro life is incredible and schools of small fish, large schools of small fish, are everywhere.  Gill net remnants were found and removed from the reef at the dive site, "Crystal Rock", and we did see several small gill net boats but we never directly witnessed their use within the park boundaries nor did we hear the distinctive thud of dynamite, a common occurance for divers in the past.
     This change can only be attributed to the cooperative efforts of TNC, PNK, the non profit set up by the Conservancy to manage the park and BTK, the government ministry that administers to the parks in Indonesia.  It should also be noted that in any undertaking of this type, where an extended period of years go by, there will be cultural affects that influence the best of intentions. Just operating in a country like Indonesia, where corruption runs rampant, and the common civilians have to exist on pennies a day, there will exist animosity and resentment for foreign entities that espouse they know better how to enact the necessary changes.  
     Islanders, both fishermen and non fishing individuals, want to see the results yesterday, not next year.  They see tribal chiefs with new cars or motorcycles while they have no plumbing or electricity.  They see fish farms producing product but no money seems to be trickling down to them.  
     In some part this is true but it is also important to realize that the change will come, given the necessary time for it to happen. When this trip finished PT Karamba was preparing for only their second cycle of fish production, an event that has taken years to occur.  This is an expensive undertaking, about $45,000.00 for the first cycle of one hatchery, and that is using personnel that were already trained, and hundreds of thousands getting to that point.  Now, local inhabitants must be trained to carry out the operations, a marketing network established, and the additional materials necessary to sustain operations purchased to build additional hatcheries and aquire brood stock.  This is a monumental undertaking and though the cost is small, by Mariculture standards, it is huge by Indonesian. It all takes time and as the saying goes,"Time waits for no man". Next up, "Let's talk fish and critters", amazing fish and critters....... Safe diving, Envirodiver