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Published September 18, 2025 | Version v1
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State of the Marine Ecosystem in Tanjung Bira 2023

Authors/Creators

  • 1. Indo Ocean Foundtion

Contributors

  • 1. Indo Ocean Foundation
  • 2. Indo Ocean Project
  • 3. ROR icon Hasanuddin University

Description

State of the Marine Ecosystem in Tanjung Bira – 2023 is the first large-scale ecological report produced by the Indo Ocean Foundation in collaboration with Indo Ocean Project. The publication compiles baseline data collected between 2022 and 2023 across 13 dive sites in Tanjung Bira, Liukang Loe, and Kambing Island, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

The report integrates multiple ecological monitoring methods, including roving visual surveys of fish and megafauna, benthic photographic quadrats, water quality sampling, and marine debris assessments. It also incorporates contributions from the Unite Bira citizen science initiative, which documented charismatic species such as sharks, rays, sea turtles, and cetaceans. Together, these data provide a comprehensive assessment of reef health, species biomass and density, and the anthropogenic pressures facing the region.

Key findings highlight the stability and variability of reef and pelagic fish communities, the continued vulnerability of sharks, rays, and sea turtles to bycatch, and the prevalence of plastic-based marine debris. The results are intended to support evidence-based conservation, guide marine spatial planning, and provide a foundation for the potential establishment of a Marine Protected Area in South Sulawesi.

This 133-page open access report reflects the collective effort of staff scientists, local partners, and more than 70 Divemaster and Research Diver Interns. It represents the first of a planned series of annual publications designed to make ecological data accessible to the public, researchers, and policymakers, advancing Indo Ocean Foundation’s mission to link citizen science with informed marine management.

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Dates

Copyrighted
2025-09-18

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