Supported by the Directorate General of Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fishery Products, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, and in collaboration with NUSATIC 2024, LINI organized a symposium on June 7, 2024, as part of the NUSATIC NUSAPET 2024 event. The theme of the symposium was “Innovations in Sustainable Aquatics: Balancing Hobby with Conservation.”
Indonesia, with its vast coral reefs, hosts a high biodiversity of reef organisms, including fish, corals, and other marine life. This natural richness makes the country a paradise for hobbyists, leading to a growing trend of keeping fish and corals in aquariums in many cities across Indonesia.
Marine ornamental fisheries, which supply biota for marine aquariums, thrive on coral reefs from Sabang Island in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Province to Biak Numfor Island in Papua Province. The extensive coral reefs and high biodiversity offer a wide variety of fish and corals. In recent decades, aquarium enthusiasts have begun culturing corals and breeding reef fish as part of their passion for maintaining marine aquariums.
Maintaining a marine aquarium requires skill and passion. Understanding the threats and declining conditions of coral reefs due to human activities is crucial for hobbyists, who must adopt more responsible practices and heightened awareness. Many hobbyists are eager to contribute to coral reef conservation in Indonesia.
The symposium aimed to raise awareness among the marine aquarium community about supporting coral reef conservation in Indonesia. It also served as a platform for marine aquarium stakeholders to enhance their understanding of the country’s marine ornamental fisheries.
This international symposium featured nine experts from Indonesia, India, and Australia. They covered various topics, including:
- Reef Tank Hobbyists as Guardians of Marine Ecosystems and Conservation Stewards
- Efforts of coral reef restoration using cultured corals
- Coral identification using artificial intelligence
- Developing a taxonomy database for marine aquarium fish in trade
- Biological disease control
- The role of the aquarium industry in lifestyle enhancement
- Current and future directions of the aquarium industry and opportunities for Indonesia
- Government initiatives in coral reef conservation as part of a regenerative blue economy
For over a decade, LINI has been at the forefront of improving marine aquarium fisheries in Indonesia. We have tirelessly promoted responsible practices and worked closely with marine aquarium stakeholders. With the active participation of hobbyists across Indonesia, we hope to strengthen our efforts to become guardians of coral reefs. By working together, we can conserve Indonesian reefs with passion and dedication!
By Gayatri Reksodihardjo-Lilley
Supported by Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of Indonesia