The Christmas season storms took not only our north jetty but have also created havoc on the "main land". Indeed, for many Nikoi Islanders (as they call themselves), Bintan Island acts as the main land. Kelongs, which are the local fishing off shore platforms, extended piers... have all been destroyed and washed away. All the beaches are covered in debris and plastic...
We are living in the oil civilisation. If you look around you and take away all the objects that are directly or indirectly created by oil (plastics, paint...) you will be surprised to see what is actually left...
Nikoi's beaches are cleaned everyday. On a calm day it is a matter of a few hours, but after a good storm or constant wind for a few days there will not be much white sand visible. Tar washes onto our beaches as well and that is not a good sign since it has been happening more often this year.
Clean beaches are like brand new sheets on a bed. I am sure the turtles would love it as they wouldn't have to fight against plastic bottles, fishing lines, polyester floats, debris, flip flops, light bulbs and so on...
The sand has shifted more than usual this year and as a result the turtles nesting sites might change compared to the last season.
University students from the Marine University of Bintan will start coming over once a week to study Nikoi's marine ecosystems with the hope to create a long term monitoring program for the benefit of the reefs. Not only this will provide data for Nikoi and Bintan, but it would also enable Nikoi, which is a running business, to create the base for a secure site, easier to monitor and with logistical support which is usually very expensive to set up.
Located directly offshore from Bintan's east coast, the long-term aim would be to create a no take zone. This will only be possible with the support of the local fishing community, and not though government enforcement.
Even if it has failed in the past, nothing is ever achieved if we do not keep on trying.
To be continued...
We are living in the oil civilisation. If you look around you and take away all the objects that are directly or indirectly created by oil (plastics, paint...) you will be surprised to see what is actually left...
Nikoi's beaches are cleaned everyday. On a calm day it is a matter of a few hours, but after a good storm or constant wind for a few days there will not be much white sand visible. Tar washes onto our beaches as well and that is not a good sign since it has been happening more often this year.
Clean beaches are like brand new sheets on a bed. I am sure the turtles would love it as they wouldn't have to fight against plastic bottles, fishing lines, polyester floats, debris, flip flops, light bulbs and so on...
The sand has shifted more than usual this year and as a result the turtles nesting sites might change compared to the last season.
University students from the Marine University of Bintan will start coming over once a week to study Nikoi's marine ecosystems with the hope to create a long term monitoring program for the benefit of the reefs. Not only this will provide data for Nikoi and Bintan, but it would also enable Nikoi, which is a running business, to create the base for a secure site, easier to monitor and with logistical support which is usually very expensive to set up.
Located directly offshore from Bintan's east coast, the long-term aim would be to create a no take zone. This will only be possible with the support of the local fishing community, and not though government enforcement.
Even if it has failed in the past, nothing is ever achieved if we do not keep on trying.
To be continued...