Project Description
Year: 2022
Amount: € 1.900
Location: Depapre
The north coast of Papua is characterized by fantastic azure bays with rich fishing grounds and breathtaking coral reefs. Although diving tourism is still limited in Papua, more and more recreational divers from all parts of the world are finding their way there. But Papua’s coral reefs are in grave danger, just like elsewhere in the world. Bleaching, the warming or acidification of the oceans, plays a role in this. But a much greater risk is being posed by harmful fishing methods. Trawls, dynamite bombs and the application of poisons such as cyanide, which are injected into the coral, yield a lot of fish in a short time but destroy the coral. The consequences are guessable. The fishermen see their fishing grounds disappear nearby and have to go further and further out to sea to find new ones.
The members of the diving club Papua Diving Academy (PDA) in Tablasupa made a plan. They have a heart for the environment but also for the hundreds of school dropouts in the Depapre region who hang around. With their project they kill two birds with one stone. Young people from the kampong Tablasupa are deployed to help plant new coral. This should eventually ensure that the fish returns to the coast. The coral can also become attractive again for tourists who can snorkel and dive there. That is profitable for the local community. A win-win situation. If the project is a success, it will be followed up at several locations. Our consultants were impressed by the enthusiasm, the social and professional approach of the people of the Papua Diving Academy. Hapin followed their advice and offered financial support, for the purchase of iron frames, anchors, wire cutters and plastic fastening clips.
Want to see for yourself how the planting of coral reef by PDA works in Depapre? You can watch this video.
More about this project
Coral project: first centimeters of growth realized
Through the website and our newsletter we called for action for the endangered coral reefs of Depapre. Many have you responded, for which many thanks! Meanwhile, the ‘fish houses’, with coral tied to them, have been placed on the seabed.
