Artificial Reef Submersion, Maintaining Marine Ecosystem Oriented Underwater

Artificial Reef Submersion, Maintaining Marine Ecosystem Oriented Underwater Tourism

PANGKALPINANG -- The mining industry continues to grow, mining is not just taking natural resources. But maintain the sustainability of the ecosystem.

This is what PT Timah Tbk, a tin mining company that is a member of the MIND ID Mining Industry holding, has consistently carried out reclamation.

Reclamation is carried out on land and sea, PT Timah Tbk's reclamation achievements continue to show improvement. Marine reclamation is carried out by the company as an effort to maintain the marine ecosystem.

The sea reclamation carried out by PT Timah Tbk was carried out on Bangka Island by sinking artificial reefs and restocking squid. Meanwhile, in Kundur and Karimun, mangrove planting, abrasion barrier construction, and crab restocking were carried out.

The sinking of artificial reefs carried out by PT Timah Tbk in the waters of Bangka Island has become an attractive underwater tourism potential, because it is attached to corals, becoming a home for fish.

By 2022, PT Timah Tbk has sunk 1,920 artificial reef units in 11 locations on Bangka Island. In addition, PT Timah Tbk has also restocked 20,091 squid.

"The realization of PT Timah Tbk's sea reclamation for artificial reef sinking and squid restocking has been realized 100 percent of the set target," said Head of Corporate Communications of PT Timah Tbk, Anggi Siahaan.

Anggi said that the artificial reef sinking had been carried out since 2016. In the period 2016-2022, PT Timah Tbk has drowned 3,105 fish shelters, 1,475 coral transplant units and 3,840 artificial reef units.

"PT Timah Tbk has consistently carried out sea reclamation and the impact has now begun to be felt by the community. Sea reclamation is also the company's effort to encourage underwater tourism," said Anggi.

Meanwhile, Lecturer of Marine Sciences at Bangka Belitung University, Indra Ambalika Syari, said that the marine reclamation area carried out by PT Timah Tbk which has become an underwater tourist destination includes Putri Island, located in Bangka Regency.

"On Putri Island, PT Timah Tbk's sea reclamation has become a tourist destination managed by community groups. Visitors can snorkel to see artificial reefs that have been plastered with coral and become a place for fish to play," he said.

Indra said that on Putri Island, a coral garden has even been formed and tourists have visited for underwater photos.

"The coral gardens were formed from artificial reefs that were submerged by PT Timah Tbk, then managed by the community. So that it became an underwater tour package," said the chairman of the Sayang Babel Foundation.

According to him, not only on Putri Island which can be developed into marine tourism, several artificial reef sinking locations can also be used as tourist destinations.

"Artificial reefs that are sunk are usually covered with coral and become fish houses. There is an opportunity that can be developed, for example, as a fishing tourism spot. Local fishermen can provide boat rentals, tourists can fish at artificial reef locations, it just needs to be created," he explained. .

According to Indra, mining and reclamation activities are a complete package that cannot be separated so that mining can be sustainable.

"Daily, companies are becoming more aware that mining and reclamation are an inseparable unit, and reclamation is not a burden. So mining that pays attention to the environment is not just a slogan," said Indra.

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