In the quiet coastal village of Les, North Bali, a remarkable story of transformation has been unfolding for more than a decade. The Mina Lestari Fisher Group stands as an example of what’s possible when communities unite around shared values—resilience, conservation, and innovation. Few fisher groups in Indonesia survive beyond their first few years. But Mina Lestari has not just survived—it has thrived, evolving into a mature, independent organization that now enters its second decade stronger than ever.
The journey began in 2008, when LINI first partnered with local fishers who collected marine aquarium fish. At that time, the reefs around Les Village were in crisis. Decades of destructive fishing practices, including the use of potassium cyanide from the 1980s to the early 2000s, had devastated fish populations and coral ecosystems. Fishers watched helplessly as their daily incomes dwindled alongside the health of the ocean they depended on.
It was a heartfelt plea from these fishers that sparked LINI’s reef restoration program—a grassroots response to an urgent problem. By 2010, formal collaboration with the Mina Lestari group had begun, marking the start of a mission to rebuild damaged reefs and provide safe havens for marine life through artificial reef structures. In 2012, the group was officially established as Kelompok Nelayan Rumah Ikan Mina Lestari. Two years later, it evolved into Kelompok Usaha Bersama (KUB) Mina Lestari, a collective business group with a clear purpose: to create a space where fishers could gather, learn, access resources, and amplify their voices in advocating for their community’s needs.
What makes Mina Lestari different? It’s built on more than good intentions. Through regular meetings, revolving loan programs, fishing gear sales, and hands-on conservation work, the group has become a trusted institution—not just for its members, but for the entire community. LINI’s approach has always centered on one core belief: reef restoration succeeds when local communities lead it. The organization empowers fishers to become stewards of their restored reefs, fostering a deep sense of ownership and responsibility. This philosophy has been validated across multiple sites—not only in Bali, but also through collaborations in Sulawesi and Maluku.As Mina Lestari continued restoring reefs, they were simultaneously revitalizing livelihoods and instilling pride in the marine ecosystems they call home.
A Bold New Chapter: Diving Into Tourism
Three years ago, Mina Lestari took a bold step forward. They launched Mina Lestari Dive and Snorkeling, inviting visitors to experience firsthand the underwater beauty they have worked so hard to restore. This wasn’t just about income—it was about storytelling. Every dive and snorkel trip offers guests the chance to witness thriving reefs that were once barren, brought back to life by the very fishers who now guide them through the water. The initiative has proven both meaningful and profitable. Equipment rentals alone now generate up to IDR 5 million every six months, with proceeds fairly shared between the landowner hosting the dive shop, the fisher group, and Made Partiana, who leads dive operations.
Made Partiana’s journey embodies the group’s transformation. Once an active marine aquarium fisher and long-time group leader, he has worked alongside LINI since the earliest days of reef conservation. Now, he dedicates his time to leading dive and snorkeling expeditions with fellow group members—offering not just a livelihood, but a powerful testament to what communities can achieve when they embrace change.
From a small fisher group responding to ecological crisis to a mature, independent organization that has endured for over a decade, Mina Lestari exemplifies resilience, collective spirit, and adaptability. They have shown that conservation and livelihood are not opposing forces—they are intertwined, each strengthening the other. Their story is a reminder that the ocean’s future lies in the hands of those who know it best: the communities who live by its rhythms, depend on its abundance, and now, protect its beauty.
We warmly invite you to come and dive or snorkel with the Mina Lestari Fisher Group. By supporting them, you are also supporting reef conservation in North Bali.
By Gayatri Reksodihardjo-Lilley and Eveline Kurniati
