Coral Reef Transplant Program in Banten Bay

Coral reefs are one of the ecosystems that are very influential on the condition of the sea to the coast. Damage to coral reefs can eliminate fish populations, change coastal profiles, reduce freshwater stocks on small islands, and have an impact on reducing the income of coastal communities. Seeing the importance of coral reef rehabilitation in marine waters, PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Tbk in collaboration with the Sukarame Underwater Nature Group (KABL) and Experts from the Fisheries College LPSPL Serang, implemented the Coral Reef Transplantation Program in the Northern Waters of Panjang Island, Banten Bay, with the coordinates of -5,92057197355 South Latitude and 106, 16101297500 East Longitude. This program has been carried out since April 2020 as a form of Chandra Asri's contribution to the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems. In this program, a total of 1,250 coral reef seedlings were transplanted on 25 rack units with the Shelf and Cast Hybrid System. Coral reef seedlings that were transplanted were Acropora sp. with a branching growth form consisting of 6 species, including Acropora carduus, Acropora cervicurnis, Acropora formosa, Acropora grandis, Acropora intermedia, and Acropora pulchra. Monitoring the results of coral reef transplants is carried out every month to measure the growth rate of coral reefs on 25 shelf units. Measurement of growth was carried out using a simple random sampling method, in which the minimum total sample measured based on the Slovin formula was 125 samples. It shows positive results from coral reef transplantation activities, namely an increase in average height every month. In addition to monitoring the average height, observations were also made on the Survival Rate (SR) indicator showing the survival rate of coral reefs, namely the percentage of the number of coral reefs that are still alive to the total number of coral reefs transplanted. The average survival rate (SR) of coral reefs is more than 90%. This shows that the implementation of coral reef transplantation is going well. Coral reef transplants made as Artificial Coral Reef have become a living habitat for associated biota, both as a home for coral reef biota, a nursery ground for fish as well as a habitat for large fish and various megabenthos. Marine biota found in coral reef transplant areas during monitoring in 2020 and 2021 included one seahorse (Hippocampus spinossisimus), stingray (Taeniura Lymma), jellyfish (Aurelia aurita), clam (Perna viridis), snail (Druplla sp.), starfish (Culcita sp.), rock fish (Synanceia verrucosa), reef fish (Epinephelus sp., Amblyglyphidodon curacao, Amblyglyphidodon curacao), Angle Fish, Nudi Branch, and Tetralia crab. Shellfish (Bivalves) which are filter feeder biota can be an indicator biota for the presence of sedimentation in these waters. The presence of Bivalves can also help clean the surrounding seawater from dissolved sedimentary particles. Besides Bivalves, several Sponge, Algae, and other types of biota were also found.