TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Waai Beach is located on the east end of Ambon Island, on the part that looks like a fish opening its mouth. It is around one-hour drive along Ambon gulf, and Ambon downtown, and along the popular Natsepa Beach. Waai Beach is face to face with Haruku Island and western part of Seram Island.

Ambon is a very dynamic city that many of its beaches have started to lost their beauty because of the increasing economy activities. However, several communities are determined to bring back this beauty of Ambon beach. One of the efforts is to grow sea grass on the beach.

We departed from the hotel around 10.00 in the morning and we arrived on the beach less than 30 minutes later. Mangroves, around 30-cm high, were seen to have grown on some parts of the beach. After a short briefing, we started to plant the seagrasses.

Seagrass, along with mangrove and corals, form the coastal ecosystem. Seagrasses usually grow where mangrove and coral exist. According to Tahir Tuasikal, a lecturer at the Fisheries and Marine Science oof Darussalam University, seagrasses can reduce the strength of sea wave and precipitate muds.

“So that the water is clear,” said the 44-year-old.

Ambon used to have abundant amount of seagrass in Suli, inner Ambon gulf, and outer Ambon gulf. One of the largest seagrass habitation is found in Kotania gulf, West Seram. Nowadays, many of the seagrass habitations have been damaged as consequences of explosive, sand mining, and waste sedimentation.

The seagrass seedlings that we were planting were taken from segrass farm in Tulehu coast, of which the sea shores are seen from Waai Beach. The young seagrass were taken carefully using tools so that it’s root not damages or wounded. If it is cut or wounded, the seagrass won’t grow.

Researcer from Indonesia Institute of Science (LIPI), Wawan Kiswara, said seagrass growing in Indonesia is mostly of Enhalus acoredes species. It grows on shallow and warm water. It’s rhizome is edible and its leaves can be made into mat.

“The Netherlands is ahead of us in studying the seagrass,” said Wawan who had performed a research on seagrass in the Dutch land.

According to Wawan, seagrasses in the Netherland are grown up to 2-meter high and are used as additional material to build sea wall.

In Indonesia, there are 15 types of seagrasses and only 12 of them are easily found. Indonesia’s largest habitation of seagrass is located at the Kitania Gulf in West Seram and East Bintan with total area of 1,500 hectares.

“If you find dugongs, it is almost certain that seagrass also grow in that location, like in East Bintan for example. The seagrass is the main food for the dugongs. “ said Wawan.

KARTIKA CHANDRA