TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-Coral colonies in several Indonesian waters, including in Sironjong Island that is a part of Mandeh under water tourism in South Sumatra, have suffered coral bleaching due the increase of sea temperature.
“It happens for the first time in Mandeh waters,” Indrawadi, coral researcher at Bung Hatta University on Tuesday, last week.
The coral bleaching in Mandeh was found on February 26, 2016. The similar phenomenon also occurred back in 1998 and 2010 in Pandan Island and Pieh Island in Pariaman. In Kasiak waters, Pariaman, the coral bleaching was found in May 2015. Coral colonies in Bulukumba waters, South Sulawesi, also showed similar phenomena.
Reef Check Indonesia had warned that the coral bleaching would occur in Indonesia due to the rising sea temperature. The peak was predicted to occur in April.
Data from the US National Ocean Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) revealed that the sea temperature in some Indonesian territories would rise above the average until mid-2016. The heat can damage chloroplast, which is an instrument for plants to carry out the photosynthesis process.
Coral bleaching can also result in mass coral deaths, since the rising temperature can cause coral polyp to lose symbiotic algae, called zooxantela. This algae is the food and color source for corals.
The coral bleaching has reportedly occurred globally, as almost 12,000 square kilometer of coral colonies in the Atlantic Ocean are suffering the phenomenon. The NOAA has announced an emergency state for this phenomenon, since this is the third mass coral bleaching after 1998 and 2010.
Coral expert from Hasanuddin University Syafiuddin Yusuf said that a periodic observation must be conducted to predict the magnitude of the impact of the coral bleaching.
“[Coral bleaching] will have impact on the Indonesia’s marine, fisheries, and underwater tourism potential,” Syafiuddin said.
AMRI MAHBUB | FEBRIANTI (PADANG)
