Seagrass tour as an educational tour

    What is seagrass? Some people in Indonesia do not know about seagrass, even though they have often seen or played with seagrass. Seagrasses are flowering plants that live in intertidal zones and in shallow seas. Seagrasses are different from seaweed. Seaweed is a macroalgae that is classified as a low-level plant and has no actual leaves, stems, and roots, while seagrasses have leaves, stems, roots, flowers, and seeds. If in the terrestrial ecosystem we have grasslands, then in the marine ecosystem there are seagrass beds. The term seagrass bed is defined as an ecosystem with seagrass as the dominant vegetation consisting of a mixture of several species of seagrass (Kiswara dan Winardi, 1999).

    Seagrass ecosystems have important ecological functions, among others are as primary producers which are converting sunlight and carbon dioxide into organic matter, as habitat and feeding ground for marine biotas, as well as breeding grounds and nurseries for various types of fish. Other ecological functions are as a sediment catcher and coastal protector from erosion because it can withstand the sea current (Sjafrie et al, 2018).   Based on these functions, seagrass ecosystems strongly support biodiversity. Seagrasses, besides having ecological functions, also have an economic function, although indirectly, that is as a fishing area.

    In Indonesia seagrasses have a wide distribution, and in Bali, seagrasses are scattered on the southeast coast and south of Bali, in Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan and in West Bali. There are 13 species of seagrasses in Indonesia.  Those species are Thalassia hemprichii, Cymodocea rotundata, Cymodocea serrulata, Syringodium iseotifolium, Thalassodendron ciliatum, Enhalus acoroides, Haludole pinifolia, Halodule uninervis, Halophila decipiens, Halophila ovalis, Halophila minor, Halophila spinulosa, and Halophila sulawesii (Kuriandewa, 2009; Kuo 2007).  Of the 13 species, as many as nine species were found in the Sanur Beach area, Bali. The nine seagrass species are Halodule pinifolia, Halodule uninervis, Cymodocea rotundata, Cymodocea serrulata, Syringodium isoetifolium, Thalassodendron ciliatum, Enhalus acoroides, Halophila ovalis and Thalassia hemprichii (Pharmawati et al, 2016).

    Based on research conducted at Udayana University, the genetic diversities for E. acoroides (Pharmawati et al, 2019) and S. isoetifolium in Bali are relatively low. This is a threat to the presence of seagrass species. Seagrass damage can occur due to human activities as well as natural factors. Therefore, conservation efforts are needed. Conservation efforts can be started by introducing seagrass ecosystems to the community. One way to introduce seagrasses is through a seagrass tour as an educational tour. An educational tour is a tourism activity with educational content.

    Seagrass tour as an educational tour can involve several activities such as introducing seagrass species, making seagrass herbaria that can be used as decoration, monitoring seagrass population activities or catching fish in seagrass beds. Tour packages can be offered to schools so that the younger generation knows seagrasses as one of the important natural resources.

    The introduction of seagrass species is done by explaining the characteristics of each species using pictures, followed by direct observations to the sea. Seagrass observation activities should be carried out during low tide. Monitoring seagrass populations is another activity that can be carried out after the introduction of seagrass species.  The monitoring seagrass population is an observation of the dominance of certain types of seagrass and seagrass density at a location that is carried out periodically. Monitoring is carried out using the quadrat and transect method. A transect is a straight line made over seagrass bed for the length of 100m, while a quadrat is a 50cm x 50cm rectangular frame placed on a transect at 10m intervals along the transect (Rahmawati et al, 2014). Types and percentages of seagrass cover in a square are recorded.

    Seagrass herbarium preparation activity is an interesting seagrass tourism activity. An herbarium is a part of a plant that is preserved by drying and pressing. Seagrasses are taken from their habitat, washed, and wiped.   Then the seagrass is placed on a pile of newspapers and positioned so that the plant parts are clearly visible and then is covered again with the newspapers.  The stacks of newspapers are clamped firmly and stored in a dry place.  After one to two weeks, the clamp is opened and the dried specimen is stuck on cardboard.   The herbarium can be used as wall decorations.

    Watching fishermen catching fish around seagrass beds or getting involved in fishing activities is also a means of seagrass conservation education. Explanations can be given regarding how to catch fish that are environmentally friendly so that it does not damage the seagrass ecosystem. The use of traditional fishing gear such as fishing rods and nets can maintain biodiversity.  According to Latuconsina (2010) fishing rod is a fishing tool that is classified as the most environmentally friendly, because it has high selectivity, low bycatch, does not damage the environment, and does not harm fishermen.

    These activities provide direct experiences so that the learning process becomes easier and lessons are faster to be understood. It is hoped that by recognizing the type and function of seagrasses, awareness can grow on the importance of the presence of seagrasses.  This will encourage people to carry out conservation efforts. Preserving seagrass beds is also preserving biota that lives around seagrass beds. Seagrass educational tourism can also generate further interest in studying seagrass.

References

Kiswara W, Winardi. 1999. Sebaran lamun di Teluk Kuta dan Teluk Gerupuk, Lombok. Jakarta, Pusat Penelitian Oseanografi-LIPI.

Kuo J. 2007. New monoecious seagrass of Halophilla sulawesii (Hydrocharitaceae) from Indonesia. Aquatic Botany 87: 171-175

Kuriandewa TE. (2009) Tinjaun tentang lamun di Indonesia. Lokakarya Nasional I Pengelolaan Ekosistem Lamun. Jakarta, Sheraton Media

Latuconsina H. 2010.  Identifikasi alat penangkapan ikan ramah lingkungan di kawasan konservasli laut Pulau Pombo, Provinsi Maluku.  Jurnal Ilmiah Agribisnis dan Perikanan 3(2): 23-30

Pharmawati M, Nurkamila US, Stevanus. 2016.  RAPD fingerprinting key and phylogenetic of nine seagrass species from Sanur coastal water, Bali, Indonesia using matK sequences.  Biodiversitas 17(2): 687-693

Pharmawati M, Wrasiati MP, Yowani SC. 2019.  Low genetic diversity of Enhalus acoroides (L.f.) Royle from southeast coastal waters of Bali, Indonesia.  Bioscience Research 16(4): 3706-37

Rahmawati S, Irawan A, Supriyadi IH, Azkab MH. 2014. Panduan Monitoring Padang Lamun.  Pusat Penelitian Oseanografi Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia.  Sarana Komunikasi Utama, Bogor.

Sjafrie NDM, Hernawan UE, Prayudha B, Supriyadi IH, Iswari MY, Rahmat, KAnggraini K,  Rahmawati S, Suyarso. 2018. Status Padang lamun Indonesia 2018 ver.02. Pusat Penelitian Oseanografi, Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia, Jakarta