This grassroots campaign empowered local fishermen to play a key role in solving the challenges of declining catches
Endangered coral reef in Indonesia’s Balikpapan region has a new lease on life – underwater life – thanks to a Thiess-led initiative.
A collaboration between Thiess’ Balikpapan Support Facility (BSF) Community Development team, the Balikpapan Government and local fishermen is making waves through a practical rehabilitation program aimed at addressing years of reef degradation.
The grassroots campaign empowers local fishermen to play a key role in solving the challenges of declining catches and draws on the successes from a similar project in Bali.
The BSF team and local fishermen placed nine reef balls and four transplantation tables in the sea near the BSF office to rejuvenate the reef.
The concrete structures considered the most successful artificial reef units in the world, mimic a natural reef and encourage habitat growth and coral rehabilitation. Additional structures have been added to the area now officially declared a reef restoration zone.