On October 5, 2023, a training session was held to introduce the coral guidebook to Indonesian authorities responsible for managing coral trade.
The guidebook was developed in collaboration with scientists from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), UK, and the Indonesian Coral Reef Foundation (TERANGI). It serves as a tool for identifying corals in trade and provides guidance on distinguishing between wild-collected and maricultured specimens, based on CITES-accepted taxonomy.
The training took place at a coral export facility in Bali, with participants from the Bali Quarantine Office, the Coastal and Marine Resources Management Center (BPSPL) in Denpasar, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, and the Association of Coral, Fish, and Shell Indonesia.
Professor Suharsono, a renowned Indonesian coral scientist and contributor to the guidebook, led the training. Participants learned how to effectively use the guidebook, differentiate between wild and cultured corals, and interpret the red flag page, which highlights key identification concerns. A hands-on session allowed participants to practice using the guidebook with live coral specimens.
Additionally, staff from CV. Cahaya Baru, the host organization for the training, provided an overview of the step-by-step coral export process and the challenges encountered in trade inspections.
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. They found the guidebook to be an invaluable tool for facilitating inspections and expressed a strong interest in further training sessions at their respective offices. Discussions were also held on follow-up training and the distribution of guidebooks to field staff to enhance its wider application.
By Gayatri Reksodihardjo-Lilley
