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Tourism Potential of Cenderawasih Bay Needs Protection
WINDONESIA July 27, 2024
A whale shark (Rhincodon typus), known by locals as 'gurano bintang', in the Cenderawasih Bay National Park. (Simon Gerrad).
The Cenderawasih Bay National Park is part of the Cenderawasih Bay area in Papua, Indonesia. The area, which is also known as Saireri Bay or formerly Geelvink Bay, is a prominent natural feature that spans the provinces of Papua and West Papua.
According to the book "Whale Sharks of Cenderawasih Bay: Research and Monitoring" by A.H.A. Toha and others, Cenderawasih Bay is the largest area prioritized for conservation in Indonesia and is known for its rich aquatic resources.
Based on research by A.H.A. Toha and his colleagues, Cenderawasih Bay hosts at least 5,000 species of coral, more than 1,000 species of fish, and various types of mollusks, turtles, marine mammals, and other marine life.
In addition to its abundant aquatic natural resources, Cenderawasih Bay also has tourist attractions scattered across several islands, including:
- Rumberpon Island: A location for bird watching, deer breeding, marine tourism, diving, and snorkeling that also features the wreckage of a fighter plane that crashed into the sea.
- Nusorowi Island: An area for diving, snorkeling, marine tourism, and wildlife observation.
- Mioswaar Island: Known for hot springs, waterfalls, diving, snorkeling, wildlife observation, and cultural tourism.
- Yoop Island and Windesi Waterways: An area for observing whales and dolphins.
- Roon Island: A location for bird watching, diving, snorkeling, waterfalls, cultural tourism, and an old church that is a tourist attraction.
As a region rich in marine resources, Cenderawasih Bay faces threats to its environment that encompass unsustainable fishing practices, illegal fishing, and the extraction of coral for various purposes that can lead to overfishing and disrupt aquatic habitats of Cenderawasih Bay.
The Cenderawasih bay National Park is one of the key locations for whale shark protection in Indonesia and is a site with the largest number of individuals managed under a single area.
Therefore, conservation and protection efforts are necessary to maintain the potential and sustainable use of the area's resources. One such effort is the designation of Cenderawasih Bay as a national park.
Source: www.rri.co.id