Supervisor of Fish Bank Indonesia, Yuyu Wahyudin, explained to students of Banyuwangi Polytechnic about the importance and urgency of conserving marine ecosystems and developing coastal communities. Indonesia, with its identity as a maritime nation, must actively protect its seas and the ecosystems within.
“The coastal areas, mangrove forests, and coral reefs are natural resources that we must safeguard for the future. They may appear fine now to the naked eye, but we don’t know what will happen in ten or twenty years. We could lose the rich diversity of fish that currently make us proud.”
Yuyu also emphasized that conservation cannot stand alone without accompanying programs. Developing coastal communities as the front line in protecting marine ecosystems must also be a priority. Without this, no matter how good the programs are, they will not succeed if the human resources managing them do not fully understand the essence of conservation.
Furthermore, the potential of coastal tourism should be maximized in managing coastal conservation efforts. Economic reasons often contribute to the degradation of marine ecosystems. Therefore, coastal communities should also be equipped with the skills to develop tourism potential in their areas as an alternative source of income.
These points were conveyed during an educational event with the student organization (Ormawa) of Banyuwangi Polytechnic, who visited Ria Bomo Beach, Banyuwangi, on Sunday, May 19, 2024, under the theme “Aksi Pelestarian Lingkungan Pantai Ria Bomo: Jaga Pantai Selamatkan Lingkungan .” In addition to educational activities, the student organization also symbolically planted cypress seedlings at Ria Bomo Beach.
