Monitoring coral reef conditions in the Biorock Pemuteran rehabilitation area during the 2016 coral bleaching

¹ Department of Marine Science and Technology, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB University), Bogor 16680, Indonesia
² Marine Environment Resources, University of Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine 33405, France
³ Yayasan Biorock Indonesia Lestari, Denpasar 80582, Indonesia
⁴ Adjunct Victoria University of Wellington, Pipitea Wellington 6140, New Zealand
⁵ Khairun University, Ternate 97719, Indonesia
⁶ Department of Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB University), Bogor 16680, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: beginersubhan@apps.ipb.ac.id

Abstract

Pemuteran is well-known for its community-based coral reef conservation activities utilising Biorock technology, through the application of low voltage electricity. The main objective of this research is to assess the condition of coral reefs and fish communities within the Biorock area in Pemuteran, Bali. Data collection was implemented in June 2016 at the bleaching event, employing the Point Intercept Transect (PIT) method, and the Underwater Visual Census (UVCs) method. The benthic community composition at both research stations was dominated by dead coral with algae (Biorock Pemuteran 48.9%, Menjangan Island 51%). Both research locations exhibited branching coral and massive coral as the predominant coral lifeforms. Observational findings reveal noticeable differences in the community structure of coral fish between Biorock Pemuteran and Menjangan Island waters. A total of 11,260 individuals covering 120 fish species across 21 families. Higher fish abundance in Menjangan Island (1,326 ± 224 ind/250 m²) compared to Biorock Pemuteran (551 ± 235 ind/250 m²). The condition of coral reefs at both research locations is included in the poor category (0 – 24.9%). The reef fish community in both Biorock Pemuteran and Menjangan Island is in a stable condition with low dominance level and a moderate to high diversity.