Positive News for the Marine Environment
SurfersROLE is playing a role

SurfersROLE was formed as a branch of ROLE that deals specifically with marine and coastal community issues and with projects steadily in motion, the future of Bali’s beautiful beach regions looks positive.

We can not expect the Marine Environment to be Healthy, if we do not clean up the Rivers, the Lands, the Ecology as well. So we can protect the Oceans.

In 2008 ROLE’s team accomplished a beach clean up in Sanur that helped clean one of Bali’s most famous and visited shorelines, they made major progress with their abalone farming project, and most notably was at the forefront in cleaning up the mess caused by the Padang Padang ghost ship wreck. These are just several of many Bali-wide projects under the ROLE umbrella that also include a free year-round womens education and vocational center, permaculture gardens, snail farming, alternative energy, and the construction of an Eco Learning Park to educate people on such green topics. ROLE is also creating employment for Indonesians in these fields, starting in the Nusa Dua area around the ROLE office where a majority of the projects are carried out.

The SurfersROLE scope focuses on maritime and coastal programs under ROLE direction. Networking experts in the field along with collaboration from other related foundations allows SurfersROLE to operate their programs to their maximum potential. SurfersROLE launched early this year and has lined up numerous programs on its 2009 agenda.

In conjunction with the Sawangan Fishermen’s Association in south Nusa Dua, SurfersROLE is putting together a Proposal for a Marine Protected Area (MPA) that will protect nearly 2,000 square meters of beachfront waters that extend 700 meters out to see from just south of the Nikko to nearby Geger beach, a highly popular surf and tourist beach. Security enforcers will guard the zone from poachers and maintain the no-catch no-take zone policy seen at similar locations in Bali like Tulamben and Menjangan.

Such an MPA does not exist in this part of southern Bali and would create a shelter for marine life and corals to thrive and grow under this protection. Local seaweed farmers will still be allowed to harvest here, something very helpful as they are continually being pushed further off their farms by continual development. MPA’s are not created instantly, and generally take 2 to 3 years to come to fruition and pass government approval. Still, the wheels are in motion to effectively secure this sanctuary in the sea.

The Green Turtle Release Program is another SurfersROLE project aimed at replenishing Bali’s marine life. Baby green turtles will be grown to maturity and then released into Bali’s waters. Although once a delicacy and ceremonial dish, the turtle is facing depleting numbers in Bali, an issue being answered by several foundations, including SurfersROLE.

ROLE and SurfersROLE are also running an eco-friendly Abalone Farming project. This will provide sustainable produce for restaurants and also the jewelry trade. The staff employed by and operating this project are Nusa Dua seaweed farmers and fishermen who are facing a shrinking industry.

The Kids Marine Education Station (KMES) is the biggest work in progress undergoing construction on the 15,000 meter sq. ROLE Eco Learning Park above Nusa Dua beach. The goal is to educate at least 2,000 youths each year on marine topics, marine life, and conservation issues by providing them an opportunity to interact and learn through an aquarium, touch pool, species identification, and related workshops.

Such an endeavor as the KMES is not easy to accomplish alone and SurfersROLE hopes others can help contribute. Not necessarily only monetarily, but building materials and even expertise on the related subjects are all welcomed. ROLE and SurfersROLE welcome you to come see our Eco Learning Park and the progress being made on the KMES already. Please help play a role and remember, we are all in this together.

THANK YOU!

Lorca Lueras on behalf of SurfersROLE

ROLE believes that the health of the Marine Environment and the health of Coastal Communities are inextricably linked.
Over fishing, coastal beachfront development, ever increasing waste discharge and upstream pollutants have placed marine resources, including tropical coral reefs and lagoons, and local fisheries in sharp environmental decline. The income derived, the food sourced and the protein and nutrition attained from these recourses by most coastal communities have dried up or become insufficient.

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