SINGARAJA — Bali Governor I Wayan Koster officially opened the Jaladhi Vistara Maritime Festival in Bondalem Village, Tejakula District, Buleleng, on Saturday (Oct 25). The festival celebrates the community-led coral reef restoration efforts that have been ongoing in Bondalem since 2007.
Supported by the Bali Provincial Government, the festival’s opening coincided with Tumpek Wariga, a sacred Balinese day dedicated to honoring the balance between humans and nature. Governor Koster highlighted the spiritual significance of the timing, emphasizing the ocean’s crucial role as a producer of over 50% of the Earth’s oxygen.
Linking Ecology and Economy
In his opening remarks, Governor Koster underscored that coastal development must be guided by both ecological balance and economic empowerment.
“Provincial and district governments must sit together to formulate an action plan for coastal ecological and economic revitalization,” Koster said.
He further encouraged the facilitation of marine-based production and distribution—such as fish and salt—as part of a sustainable blue economy framework.
Since 2007, the Bondalem community has submerged around 5,600 artificial substrates, including Buddha statues and fish domes, to create new habitats for marine life. This year’s festival began with the installation of 36 new substrates over two days in the Bondalem waters.
Ritual, Art, and the Sea
The festival opened with a multidisciplinary performance titled “Tira Aratula”, blending coastal rituals, ecological awareness, and artistic expression as a collective prayer for coral restoration.
Performers moved fluidly like sea mollusks, accompanied by wind, waves, music, and poetry. The collaboration of artists Ngurah Sudibia, Azizah Tanjung, Ketut Sumerjana, and Sujana Suklu created an evocative dialogue between art and ecology.
Musician Ketut Sumerjana presented a “bio-vibration” composition, designed to harmonize frequencies between marine organisms and their surrounding ecosystem.
Maritime Literacy and Community Conservation
Bali is home to around 1,125 species of reef fish and over 400 coral species, forming a rich and interconnected ecosystem.
“The true power of conservation lies in the hands of local communities,” said Ngurah Paramartha, the festival initiator. He also launched the Maritime Literacy Movement, an initiative combining history, culture, and coastal ecology in North Bali.
The festival also featured an Underwater Photography Contest with 38 participating photographers documenting the beauty and recovery of Bondalem’s reefs.
Veteran conservationist Ketut Sarjana Putra, member of the Advisory Council of the Oceanic Society, emphasized that conservation literacy must be grounded in real-world practice.
“Literacy should be based on field evidence, not just theory. We must not repeat the painful era of coastal erosion,” he said, noting that Bondalem has already lost about 50 meters of its shoreline.
“Restoring coral reefs means protecting the life of the island,” he added.
Academic Endorsements from Around the World
Georgia Lennox, a PhD candidate in coral restoration at Murdoch University, praised Bondalem’s community-driven approach.
“The strength of coral restoration here lies in the community’s daily awareness and active participation in monitoring and maintenance,” she said.
Meanwhile, Kadek Fendi Wirawan, PhD candidate at Diponegoro University, explained the biological factors supporting coral resilience in Bondalem.
“Coral reefs in Bondalem and Tejakula show strong adaptability and regeneration due to salinity and toxicity regulation influenced by nearby river currents,” he explained.
A Living Laboratory for the Ocean’s Future
Paramartha emphasized that the long-term success of conservation relies on collaboration.
“Synergy among communities, government, media, NGOs, and academics is the key to sustainability,” he stated. “Bali is an island that serves many, yet sometimes forgets its own needs.”
More than just a festival, Jaladhi Vistara serves as a living laboratory for inclusive marine education and conservation.
“Artificial substrates and fish domes are not only ecological solutions—they also bring economic benefits,” said Sarjana Putra.
With its spirit of maritime literacy and coral restoration, the Jaladhi Vistara Festival stands as a new milestone for Indonesia’s coastal preservation movement—a hopeful vision of bluer, healthier seas for the future.***
