Gorontalo Divers Mark 81st Independence Day with Coral Restoration
- 19 Agt 2026 12:25 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Poin Utama
- The Diver Santuy Community in Gorontalo has been restoring coral reefs in the waters of Botutonuo Village, Bone Bolango, since 2018.
- Coral reefs planted in the initial restoration area have grown successfully and are now serving as a source of coral stock for rehabilitating newly damaged areas.
RRI.CO.ID, Gorontalo - Efforts to restore the marine ecosystem in the waters off Botutonuo Village, Bone Bolango Regency, Gorontalo, have entered a new phase. Coral reefs planted by the Diver Santuy Community since 2018 have now grown well and are serving as an independent source of coral stock for restoring newly damaged areas in the region.
Chairperson of the Diver Santuy Community in Gorontalo, Hidayat Bachtiar, said the environmental initiative featured an underwater procession carrying the red-and-white Indonesian flag. The event was held to commemorate the 81st Indonesian Independence Day
“This action involved 30 divers and university students. We cleaned up marine debris and raised the red-and-white flag underwater, at the same site where the coral reef transplantation was carried out,” said Hidayat in Bone Bolango on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
To mark this year’s Independence Day, the divers planted 81 new coral seedlings at the restoration site. The number corresponds to Indonesia’s 81 years of independence in 2026.
The community recorded that it had tied and prepared more than 1,000 coral seedlings of various species throughout August 2026. The seedlings were prepared to expand the marine ecosystem restoration zone in the area.
As reported by Antara, the site was selected after monitoring showed that its coral reefs had been damaged. The community then took the initiative to conduct research while restoring the coral ecosystem in the area.
Hidayat said the marine ecosystem restoration program in Botutonuo Village had been initiated by the Diver Santuy Community in 2018. Coral seedlings that have successfully grown in the initial conservation area are being reused as stock for transplantation to newly damaged sites.
Hidayat emphasized that, beyond serving as a celebration of Indonesia’s independence, the activity was also intended to raise public awareness among nearby coastal communities about the importance of protecting marine ecosystems.
He explained that, ecologically, healthy coral reefs provide breeding grounds for marine life, thereby helping increase fish populations. Physically, coral reef structures also serve as natural wave breakers and play a strategic role in protecting coastlines from the threat of erosion.
“We hope the coral reefs in Gorontalo’s waters will always be protected, that the community will become increasingly aware of and concerned about the importance of this ecosystem, and that healthy coral reefs will bring more abundant fish catches for local residents,” concluded Hidayat. ***
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