By Zevonia Vieira
The Coral Triangle: Protecting the Heart of the World’s Marine.
Coral reefs commonly known as the “Coral Triangle,” encompasses six countries, including Pacific nations, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste. Over the long term, climate change has posed significant threats to coral reefs and has had a substantial impact on marine ecosystems.
How can we save the marine areas in Atabae, particularly Biacou Beach and Atapupu in Belu, Indonesia? What is the current condition of the coral reefs in these two locations?
According to the BioRock Indonesia report, the condition of coral reefs in Eastern Indonesia, including Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) and Atapupu, has been declining. Since 1993, the proportion of healthy coral reefs has decreased from 10% to just 4%, while good-quality reefs dropped from 30% to 24%.
On the other hand, the proportion of reefs classified as fairly healthy has increased significantly, from 23% to 39%. Conversely, the condition of degraded reefs has fluctuated considerably but is now slightly lower than the early 1990s, standing at around 34%.
Coral reefs in the region encompassing Atapupu, which lies near the border of Indonesia and Timor-Leste, are generally in moderate to poor condition, primarily due to significant local stressors such as sedimentation, overfishing, and pollution, which compound the global threats of climate change.
Meanwhile, in Timor-Leste, a similar situation has occurred due to human activities, pollution, and climate change. These factors have caused extensive damage to many coral reefs, leading to changes in fishing practices compared to the past.
“Yes, the way we catch fish today is different from the past. This has happened because of climate change, coral reefs damaged by human activity, illegal fishing that steals fish from our waters, and trees being cut down,” said Anibal da Purificacao, a local fisherman in Biacou, Atabae, Bobonaro Municipality.
Anibal began fishing in his youth and continues today as a traditional fisherman, using only simple nets along the shore.
“I love being a fisherman because fishing is an easy job and provides a good income,” he said, casting his small net and catching a few tiny fish.
Biacou is a coastal village in the Aidaba Administrative Post, Bobonaro Municipality, located on the northern coast of Timor-Leste, facing the Wetar Strait, locally known as Tasi Feto. The village is also known for its mangrove forests that separate the coast from small freshwater lagoons such as Biacou Lagoon.
These vast coastal mangroves are vital to the marine ecosystem, they protect the shoreline, serve as fish nurseries, and act as natural barriers against erosion. The coral reefs nearby provide shelter, breeding grounds, and feeding areas for fish, all essential to the life of Biacou’s sea.
Climate change and human activity threaten both people and marine ecosystems.
“If the coral reefs are destroyed, where will the fish live?” Anibal asked.
He recalled that in the past, fish were abundant and easy to find. “Before, you could catch many kinds of fish without going far. Now, it’s hard to find good fish,” he said.
“The fish we catch now are not the same as before because of climate change. The ecosystem is different; the sea used to be richer. Today it’s harder to find good fish because of these changes,” Anibal added.
He also lamented that neither the community nor the government seems to care much about marine biodiversity. “People don’t protect our sea, especially the coastal areas where coral reefs and mangroves are supposed to attract fish. Because of this, the number of fish has decreased,” he said.
At 32 years old, Anibal works both as a fisherman and a teacher. However, he still depends on fishing because his teaching salary, around $300 per month, is not enough to support his family. He prefers traditional fishing, known locally as Dai, which means fishing along the shore, near the mangroves.
During our filming with Anibal, he caught only small fish, perhaps enough for his family’s dinner.
“There are three types of fishing here,” he explained. “The first is Tiha, using nets along the shore when the tide is low. The second is deep-sea fishing using boats with engines. The third is Dai , shore fishing, like what I do. Even though I catch less and the price is lower, it’s enough for me.”
Today, many fishermen have shifted to large fishing nets and motorboats, allowing them to catch more fish and earn higher profits. Anibal still prefers the coast, even if his catch is smaller, he remains content.
“The Fish Have Disappeared”
Jaime Pereira, 32, another fisherman from Biacou, has spent his life at sea since he was young.
“When we go fishing, if we’re lucky, we catch 50 fish. If not, we waste fuel and come back with debt,” Jaime said while steering his motorboat toward the open sea.
Fishing, he explained, has become more difficult and seasonal.
“In the past, there weren’t many boats. Now there are 30 to 40 boats around Biacou and Sui-Laran, so catching fish is harder,” he said.
Sometimes Jaime earns up to $200 from a good catch. But he also sees the coral reefs dying.
“Some coral reefs are still healthy, but others are pale or damaged,” he said. “When corals die, fish have nowhere to hide they swim away.”
“Coral reefs are important for fish; they must not be destroyed. If they are, fish lose their homes. Mangroves must not be cut down either, they are fish shelters,” Jaime added.
Jaime’s wife, Alexandrinha das Dores, said her husband’s catches are small, and income is limited.
“The fish he sells bring little money, just enough for rice or milk for the baby,” she said.
Tara Bandu: Sacred Law to Protect the Sea
As the sea changes and fish disappear, local communities turn to Tara Bandu, an ancestral law, to heal the ocean.
How do Biacou’s fishermen protect coral reefs, mangroves, and fish?
Through Tara Bandu, a customary law and ritual passed down from their ancestors.
Sergio Pedruku, 69, a ritual leader in Biacou and former fisherman, now dedicates his life to protecting the sea.
“Tara Bandu was created by our ancestors to protect the sea and trees. They didn’t cut trees recklessly. As a ritual leader, I believe we must protect our land, our sea, and our marine resources,” he said.
If people do not love and protect the ocean, he warned, they will lose it. “If we don’t protect it, our future will disappear. That’s why our community gathered at the sacred house and decided to perform Tara Bandu. If we don’t, our grandchildren will suffer,” Sergio said.
Under Tara Bandu, it is forbidden to cut trees, collect coral, or destroy mangroves. Violators must pay fines or offer animals and goods to the village as compensation.
Sergio recalled the past: “We used to catch fish near the mangroves using small nets. Now many corals are gone, and the fish have fled.”
Since the reintroduction of Tara Bandu in 2011 to protect reefs and trees, fish have slowly returned.
“Now, little by little, fish are coming back, they breed and hide among the corals,” he said with a smile.
Community and Conservation
Romeo Euclides Maia, Marine Protection Field Assistant at Conservation International Timor-Leste, said their organization supports the revival of Tara Bandu to protect marine ecosystems.
“Timor-Leste, like other countries, faces global environmental challenges. We must protect mangroves, sea turtles, and coral reefs. Mangroves help mitigate climate change and protect us from tsunamis,” he explained.
He also noted that human behavior has worsened coral damage.
“In the past, women collected coral to make lime for chewing betel nut,” Romeo said. “And fishermen used bombs in Indonesia , they didn’t realize they were destroying coral”.
According to research, fish populations today are smaller and live farther from the shore due to destructive human activity.
Conservation International works with local authorities to enforce Tara Bandu and raise awareness about protecting marine ecosystems. Romeo believes that these efforts will benefit both the sea and the people.
“In the past, people used small nets and caught a few fish. Now they use large nets and catch more, but the ocean needs time to recover,” he said.
Coral Reefs in Decline
A study published by Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), found that along the northern coast of Timor-Leste, near Dili, hard coral cover at a depth of 5 meters had fallen to below 5%.
Meanwhile, a Radio Free Asia report highlighted that Timor-Leste lies within the Coral Triangle, home to 76% of the world’s coral species, six of seven sea turtle species, and the largest migration route of blue whales.
Yet coral bleaching is becoming more common due to warming seas. Bleaching occurs when heat or acidification kills the microscopic algae that give corals color and energy.
Plastic waste also poses a severe threat. Timor-Leste produces around 60–70 tons of plastic waste daily, with over 50 tons per day mismanaged and likely to pollute the marine environment.
Across the Border: Fishermen’s Lives and Efforts in Fish Conservation in Atapupu, Indonesia.
From Biacou, it takes about two hours by car to cross the border into Atapupu, a port town in Belu Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
There, we met Benedictus Rau, 63, who greeted us with a smile under a tree’s shade. He has spent his life fishing like generations before him.
“In the old days, our ancestors used traditional methods, using fruits like ai-kalisa to poison fish. But that practice killed the coral reefs too,” he admitted.
“If coral reefs die, fish lose their homes. But now, reefs are healthier because the government forbids people from damaging them or using poison,” he said.
“Fishermen must follow the rules,” Benedictus added.
The struggle of the fishermen is to survive and for the future of their children.
Volenta dos Santos, 53, Benedictus wife, sells their catch at the Atambua market.
“Sometimes we earn little, sometimes more, up to one million rupiah,” she said. Their hard work has helped their four children finish school and find jobs.
“For our children’s future, we keep working, even if it means crossing the sea,” Volenta said.
In Atapupu, Tara Bandu is also known and practiced a ritual law that forbids harming the sea or catching protected species.
“But nowadays, people no longer perform Tara Bandu like before,” he said. “Now, the government enforces laws instead.”
Using modern technology, Benedictus can now travel farther and catch more fish, but he notices changes.
“Fish swim away when they hear the sound of engines, they think it’s danger,” he explained.
Why is local knowledge about Tara Bandu no longer practiced in Atapupu? According to fisherman Benedictus, Tara Bandu is no longer practiced because the government enforces laws prohibiting the destruction of coral reefs and mangroves in the ocean.
According to a Google search, local governments have implemented various policies and efforts to preserve coral reefs and marine ecosystems. These include village and customary regulations related to marine resource management, such as prohibitions on destructive fishing and traditional management of marine conservation areas.
These efforts also encompass restrictions on fishing in certain zones containing coral reefs, the implementation of Sustainable Management Programs, advocacy and education for conservation activities, government-managed conservation areas, and monitoring and supervision activities.
According to information from the Belu Leadership Protocol and Communications Office, the Belu Regency Government has established a Marine Conservation Area along the North Coast.
Drs. Nikolaus Umbu K. Birri, MM, Assistant for Government and Public Welfare, inaugurated the establishment of the Regional Conservation Area in the marine sector on May 14, 2025.
Nikolaus emphasized that conservation is not merely about prohibitions but is an effort to preserve, protect, and utilize natural resources sustainably.
“Conservation is comprehensive protection. We are talking about a natural heritage that must be preserved for the continued survival of our children and grandchildren,” he explained.
Belu Regency has over 30 kilometers of northern coastline, stretching from Gurita Bay to the border with Timor Leste. This area holds significant ecological potential, including mangrove forests and sea cucumber cultivation, but remains vulnerable to damage.
“This conservation cannot just remain on paper. There must be intention, action, and a shared commitment. We at the Belu Regency Government are ready to assist with the resources we have, even though marine affairs are now the responsibility of the provincial and central governments, as stipulated in Law No. 23 of 2014,” he emphasized.
Local Wisdom for a Sustainable Future
The people of Biacou continue to uphold Tara Bandu, in Atapupu, government policies, education on marine conservation, strict oversight, and the involvement of traditional leaders and fishermen in protecting the sea are commitments they strongly uphold. Their customary laws govern the use of marine and coastal resources.
It bans destructive fishing practices, coral collection, and cutting mangroves, ensuring harmony between humans and nature, preserving the balance of the sea for generations to come.
This story is supported by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network’
