Manta Tow Survey on Atauro Island District of Dili Timor Leste, By: Marthen Welly, Andreas Muljadi, Constancio Dos Santos, Marcello Belo

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1 Manta Tow Survey on Atauro Island District of Dili Timor Leste, 2014 By: Marthen Welly, Andreas Muljadi, Constancio Dos Santos, Marcello Belo

2 Manta Tow Survey on Atauro Island District of Dili Timor Leste, 2014 By: Marthen Welly, Andreas Muljadi, Constancio Dos Santos, Marcello Belo Cooperation between Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Timor Leste Coral Triangle Center

3 Report: Manta Tow Survey on Atauro Island District of Dili Timor Leste, 2014 Author: Marthen Welly (CTC MPA Learning Site Manager) Andreas Muljadi (CTC Nusa Penida Conservation Coordinator) Constancio Dos Santor (Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of Timor Leste) Marcello Belo (MPA Committee of Atauro Island Timor Leste) Reference/Bibliography: Welly, M., Muljadi, H.A., Santos, C.D. & Belo, M Manta Tow Survey on Atauro Island District of Dili Timor Leste, Coral Triangle Center 17pp + v pp. Coral Triangle Center (CTC) Jalan Danau Tamblingan No.78, Sanur, Bali Indonesia (80228) Telephone ( ) ; Facsimile ( ) Photo and layout: CTC Supported by:

4 Foreword Praise to the Almighty God, for the gift and blessing that the survey to map the condition of coral reefs on Atauro Island, District of Dili Timor Leste, by using manta tow method can be completed. The survey that conducted from 8 March to 12 March 2014 has succeeded in mapping the condition of coral reefs, fish and important marine biota along 60 kilometers around Atauro Island. Hopefully, the collected data could be used to complete the database in order to support the establishment and management of Marine Protected Areas on Atauro Island Timor Leste. The results of this survey was an overview of the overall conditions of coral reefs on Atauro Island as an initial basis in elaborating a coral reef monitoring activities in the future with more detail techniques on some specific sites. In addition, the establishment of MPA on Atauro Island was a commitment of Timor Leste as a country member of CTI (Coral Triangle Initiatives) as stated on Timor Leste CTI National Plan of Action. We would like to thank Mr. Lorenco Borges Fontes (Director General for Agriculture and Fisheries), Mr. Augusto Fernandes (Director National of Agriculture and Fisheries), Mrs. Rili Djohani (Director Executive of CTC) and Mr. Johannes Subijanto (Deputy Director of CTC) for their support for the implementation of the survey, as well as Marine Protected Areas Committee of Atauro Island Timor Leste for their cooperation in the field. Hopefully the results of this survey can be a useful input in the effective management of coastal and marine biological resources on Atauro Island Timor Leste through the establishment of Marine Protected Area. April 2014 Team of Author

5 Table of Contents Foreword... iii Table of Contents... iv List of Tables... v List of Figures... v PREFACE... 1 Background... 1 Objective... 2 METHODOLOGY... 3 Manta tow (English, Wilkinson & Baker, 1997; Hill & Wilkinson, 2004)... 3 Time and Location... 8 Team of Survey... 8 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS... 9 An Overview of Atauro Island... 9 Conditions of Coral Reefs Hard Coral Cover Fish Abundance Threats on Aquatic Atauro waters CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION BIBLIOGRAPHY APPENDIX... 16

6 List of Tables Table 1. List of manta tow survey team member on Atauro Island... 8 List of Figures Figure 1. Map of National Democratic Republic of Timor Leste...1 Figure 2. Manta tow surveyor towed by 18 meters rope attached to the ship... 3 Figure 3. Manta tow board... 4 Figure 4. Observation position of manta tow surveyor in flat coral reef... 6 Figure 5. Guidelines on percentage of coral cover with manta tow (Dahl, 1981 in English et al., 1997)... 7 Figure 6. Map of Atauro Island District of Dili, Timor Leste... 8 Figure 7. Route of manta tow survey on Atauro Island Timor Leste, Figure 8. Percentages of substrate cover on Aquatic Atauro waters, Figure 9. Percentages of hard coral live cover on Atauro Island waters, Figure 10. Fish abundance on Atauro Island waters Figure 11. Fish and other biota abundance on Atauro Island waters Figure 12. Map of distribution of important marine biota on Atauro Island waters, Timor Leste. 12 Figure 13. Map of location where cetacean was discovered on Atauro Island, Timor Leste... 13

7 PREFACE Background The potential of Coral Triangle regions that was stated to have the highest marine biodiversity in the world has established cooperation among the incorporated countries as mentioned in Coral Triangle Initiatives on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF). This cooperation is primarily towards the sustainable marine resources management including coral reef resources, reef fish and food security for people, especially coastal and small islands communities. In addition, this cooperation also includes capacity building and experience sharing on management of marine, coastal and small islands regions from each state of the coral triangle. In its process, there were many initiatives in the development and establishment of Marine Protected Areas/MPA either as the initiation of government, community or an institution. Timor Leste as CTI member countries also showed an active role in this cooperation. Among others, there were some study plans for the development of MPA at several locations such as Atauro Island (Edyvane, de Carvalho, Penny, Fernandes, de Cunha, Amaral, Mendes & Pinto, 2009). Figure 1. Map of National Democratic Republic of Timor Leste.

8 Atauro Island as a small island has fairly complete coastal and marine ecosystems which are coral reefs, seagrass beds and few of mangroves forest. Seagrass on Atauro Island is quite spacious and people frequently saw dugongs at around waters that have seagrass beds. Atauro Island also has several quite long white sandy beaches where turtles often encountered lay their eggs in certain seasons. While Atauro Island waters is part of cetacean crossings (whales and dolphins). On the other hand, there are some threats such as destructive fishing, trash, sedimentation and development in coastal areas. The existence of potential and threats provide opportunities and challenges for the better management of marine resources with active involvement of community and government support that demonstrate combination of approaches of top-down and bottom-up. The initiation of MPA establishment on Atauro Island was a part of Timor Leste CTI National Plan of Action (Edyvane et al., 2009). One of the stages in the initiation of MPA establishment is availability of biophysical and socio-economic basic information. While the initial biophysical data that needs to be conducted is the manta tow survey on the condition of coral reef ecosystems. Objective This survey aims to find a general overview of the coral reef ecosystem conditions including the abundance (biomass) of fish and other important marine biota on Atauro Island as an initial assessment in mapping the potential and input for the development and management of Marine Protected Area (MPA) on Atauro Island, District of Dili Timor Leste.

9 METHODOLOGY Manta tow (English, Wilkinson & Baker, 1997; Hill & Wilkinson, 2004) Manta tow method is a coral reefs observation technique in a way the observer is behind the small motorboat using a rope as a connector between the boat and the observer (Figure 2). With a constant boat speed and passing over the coral reef with a length of tow is 2 minutes, the observer will see some objects that crossed by as well as a percentage value of coral live closure (hard corals and soft corals) and dead coral. Figure 2. Manta tow surveyor towed by 18 meters rope attached to the ship. The observed data is recorded on the data table by using the value of category or with the percentage value of integers. For additional information to support this observation, it can also be observed and recorded the percentage of sand closure and rubble and also other objects (Kima, Diadema and Acanthaster) that are visible in the trajectory of observation. At the beginner stage, observation using the manta tow method requires at least 4 people with each person has his own duties and functions, which are: 1 person is in charge of driving the motorboat. 1 person is in charge as an observer who is towed behind a boat. 1 person is in charge as a navigator who stays in front of the boat and sees the position of the boat in order to always be in between flat reef and reef edge.

10 1 person is in charge as a time keeper, his function is to pay attention to the observation time and inform the driver to stop the boat if the observation time has lasted for 2 minutes. All team members must know this method correctly and implement it with full of responsibility and in accordance with existing procedures, because it is closely related to the safety of all team members. A 20 meters rope is used to connect the manta board with the boat. The distance between the end of the boat with the observer is 18 meters so that the remaining length of the rope can be used to tie the end of the boat. The width of manta board and the length of the straps stretch should be noted to obtain a suitable distance between the observer and the end of the boat. Figure 3. Manta tow board.

11 Two buoys are installed at a distance of 6 meters and 12 meters from the end of the boat towards the manta board. The function of these buoys is as a sign to determine the brightness of seawater. White plastic board is used for data table. The data table that attached to the manta board should use an acrylic plastic with table position is placed in the middle of manta board so the data that seen by the observer can be written in the data table. Clock or stopwatch is used to determine the length of observation time. The length of observation time is 2 minutes on every towed. Global Positioning System is used for positioning. Because this tool (GPS) is quite expensive, then its application in the village is advisable to use nature signs that are on the beach (for example: leaning coconut trees at headland X, big rocks, permanent buildings, and others). Every two minutes after observation, the observer must determine his position by looking perpendicular to the shoreline and use nature signs as a reference of his position. For advanced stage, this observation can be done only by using a teamwork that consists of two people, which area one person as an observer and another one as a boat driver who also in charge as a time keeper to determine the length of time to pull. In order to conduct coral reef monitoring using this manta tow method, there are several equipment required such as: 1. Diving goggles (masks) 2. Breathing apparatus on water surface (snorkel) 3. Swimming aids in the foot (fins) 4. Motorboat (at least 5 PK) 5. Manta board with size of 60 cm length, 40 cm width, and 2 cm thick 6. Rope with length of 20 meters and diameter of 1 cm 7. Small buoy 8. White plastic board whose surface has been roughened with sand paper 9. Pencil 10. Eraser 11. Stop watch/clock 12. Global Positioning System (GPS)

12 A boat with a speed of approximately 5 PK is used to tow the observer and it can give sufficient speed for the observer to conduct observation well. The speed of this boat should be set so that it is not too fast and it is not too slow at the time of observation. The manta board with size of 60 cm x 40 cm x 2 cm (length x width x thickness) is used as a handle for observer and to lay the table board. The observer can also set the direction of movement to the right, left or even dive by moving this manta board. One hole in the middle of bottom part of manta board is required so that the observer can adjust his position at the time of observation. A 20 meters rope is used to connect the manta board with the boat. The distance between the end of the boat with the observer is 18 meters so that the remaining length of the rope can be used to tie the end of the boat. The width of manta board and the length of the straps stretch should be noted to obtain a suitable distance between the observer and the end of the boat. Two buoys are installed at a distance of 6 meters and 12 meters from the end of the boat towards the manta board. The function of these buoys is as a sign to determine the brightness of seawater. White plastic board is used for data table. The data table that attached to the manta board should use an acrylic plastic with table position is placed in the middle of manta board so the data that seen by the observer can be written in the data table. Clock or stopwatch is used to determine the length of observation time. The length of observation time is 2 minutes on every towed. Global Positioning System is used for positioning. Because this tool (GPS) is quite expensive, then its application in the village is advisable to use nature signs that are on the beach (for example: leaning coconut trees at headland X, big rocks, permanent buildings, name of the place, and others). Every two minutes after observation, the observer must determine his position by looking perpendicular to the shoreline and use nature signs as a reference of his position.

13 Figure 4. Observation position of manta tow surveyor in flat coral reef. The observer towed in between flat coral reef and reef edge (Figure 4), with a constant speed of 3 5 km/hour or like people who walk slowly. If there is another factor that obstruct such as strong water currents then the speed of the boat can be increased in accordance with the sign from the observer who is behind the boat. The coral reef observation carried out for 2 minutes, and then stopped a few moments to allow time for observer to record data of several categories that were seen during 2 minutes of observations into data table that was available on manta board. After receiving a sign from observer the observation continued for 2 minutes, and so on until completed at the site boundary of observed coral reefs.

14 Figure 5. Guidelines on percentage of coral cover with manta tow (Dahl, 1981 in English et al., 1997). The filling of data for coral closure is preferably using percentages. This is to facilitate observer in determining each coral cover. Observer must pay attention to the total percentage of the sum of coral cover added with sand and other cover does not exceed 100% (Figure 5). The filling of data into data table depends on the purpose of observation itself. The data table on Table 1 is a simple example for coral reef monitoring that aims to determine the cover of hard corals, soft corals and dead corals that can describe the condition of coral reefs in general.

15 If the observation is intended to find out other information from the reef such as the abundance of spiny starfish, rubble, sand, sponge, clams, algae, and other coral reefs biota then the table of data may be modified in accordance with the purposes of observation. Time and Location This manta tow survey activity conducted on 7 13 March 2014, which covered around the Atauro Island with a total coastline length of 60 km. The survey team base camp was located at Barry's Eco-lodge, Beloi Village. Figure 6. Map of Atauro Island District of Dili, Timor Leste. Team of Survey The manta tow survey team members are contained in the following table:

16 Table 1. List of manta tow survey team member on Atauro Island. No Name Organization Position 1 Marthen Welly Coral Triangle Center Manta tow Surveyor 2 Andreas Muljadi Coral Triangle Center Manta tow Surveyor 3 Constancio Dos Santos Minister of Agriculture and GPS Fisheries of Timor Leste 4 Marchello Belo MPA Committee of Atauro Guide on the survey Island Timor Leste 5 Elias Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of Timor Leste Rope and manta tow board keeper

17 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION An Overview of Atauro Island Atauro Island or Goat Island is located about 25 kilometers in the northern part of Timor Leste that belongs to District of Dili. Atauro Island is located among Wetar Island, Alor Island and Kisar Island (Indonesia). Atauro Island has a circumference of coastline along 60 kilometers, with an area of 144 km 2 (NCC CTI Timor Leste, 2012). There are five main villages on Atauro Island namely Vila, Beloi, Makili, Makadade, and Biquelli. All villages are located on the coast, while Makadade Village is mostly located in the highlands of Atauro Island. In general, people there lived as fisherman and farmer. Fishermen on Atauro Island are subsistence fishermen who use fishing line and simple nets to catch fish. Seaweed cultivation is also one of the island's potential by contributing revenue of from seaweed exports in 2009 (NCC CTI Timor Leste, 2012). Atauro Island lies between Wetar Strait, Alor Strait and connected with the Banda Sea. Therefore, the aquatic around Atauro Island is an important migration path for cetacean (whales and dolphins). In certain month particullary from October to November, a group of whales are often found crossing the waters around Atauro Island. The CTC manta tow survey team together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of Timor Leste and MPA Committee of Atauro Island could complete the entire survey with a total length of Atauro Island coast of about 60 kilometers.

18 Figure 7. Route of manta tow survey on Atauro Island Timor Leste, Conditions of coral reefs The general results of manta tow survey indicated that there was no components of substrate that dominant on Atauro Island waters including hard coral live, soft coral, rubble, abiotic which consist of dead coral, rocks and algae koralin (abiotic), and other components outside the four components previously (other). If the survey results viewed as a whole, then the abiotic component has composition which relatively higher compared to other components.

19 Figure 8. Percentages of substrate cover on Atauro Island waters, Hard Coral Cover The percentage of hard coral live cover on Atauro Island was between 12% 31% with an average of 20.2%. The percentage of coral cover on Atauro Island was included in low category. Some places that have coral cover with medium category above 25% were Baruana, Beloi, and Kasimeta. The poor of hard coral cover at several sites were due to high abiotic cover such in Berahara, Berau, Iliknamo, Pala and Tutumanu, and the high of rubble cover such in Akrema, Iliknamo, Pala and Raiketa. This rubble cover was allegedly due to blast fishing or dynamite fishing.

20 Figure 9. Percentages of hard coral live cover on Atauro Island waters, Fish Abundance During the manta tow survey, the recording of fish and important marine biota that encountered was also conducted. From the results of survey indicated that the abundance of fish on Atauro Island waters was high.

21 Figure 10. Fish abundance on Atauro Island waters. In some locations, there were found a very high fish abundance such as in western part and northern part of Atauro Island. It was found a collection of jack-travelly fish, yellow tail and barracuda in large enough quantities.

22 Figure 11. Fish and other biota abundance on Atauro Island waters. Bumphead parrotfish and napoleon fish could become an icon of Atauro Island since they were discovered relatively plenty. On Atauro Island waters there was also found some important marine biota, such as sea turtle, shark, and giant clam. Two types of turtles were found during the survey which was green turtle and hawksbill turtle, and type of reef shark, black-tip shark.

23 Figure 12. Map of distribution of important marine biota on Atauro Island waters, Timor Leste. When the survey was conducted, the team also encountered some species of whales and dolphins around Atauro Island waters. The species of dolphins found were Frasser dolphin, 13 Bottle-Nose dolphins, and Long-Nose dolphin. Meanwhile there were 30 whales from species of Melon- Headed found in front of Beloi village (Figure 13).

24 Figure 13. Map of location where cetacean was discovered on Atauro Island, Timor Leste. Threats on Atauro Island waters During the survey, it found various threats towards marine biodiversity on Atauro Island waters, which were: Destructive fishing Trash Sedimentation Development in coastal areas

25 The impact of destructive fishing can be seen from the coral damage which made it high in rubble closure of 25 35% as seen in Akrema, Iliknamo, Pala and Raiketa. While trash in the ocean was relatively seen plenty at Adara site. The development in coastal areas impacted on the amount of anthropogenic trash that found in every village. While sedimentation was relatively seen as the impact of the way along the coast like in Beloi.

26 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION The results of manta tow survey provide an overview of the overall conditions of coral reefs which cover 60 km around the coastline. The average cover of hard corals live is in the range of 12 31% with an average of 20.2%. The poor conditions of coral live cover were allegedly due to destructive fishing activities that resulting in coral damage that can be seen from the presence of rubble cover of up to 30%. Although the condition of coral reefs on Atauro Island waters is relatively low in terms of the hard coral live cover, however Atauro Island still has some fisheries and tourism potential with the presence of typical biota such as sharks, turtles, napoleon fish and bumphead fish as well as the abundance of economically important fish that relatively high. In addition, Atauro Island is also as a crossing of cetacean (whales and dolphins), and its seagrass beds are as habitat for dugongs. On the other hand, there are some threats to the preservation of natural assets on Atauro Island such as destructive fishing activities, trash, sedimentation and other impacts of the coastal development. From the results of manta tow survey, several sites that could be considered as a core zone and a sustainable fisheries utilization zone are Adara, Beloi, Baruana, Kasimeta, west and north of Atauro Island in terms of hard coral live closure and fish abundance that are relatively higher. From the existing potential and threats, Atauro Island has an opportunity to be managed properly. Therefore some survey and mapping still required to be conducted towards other important habitats such as seagrass beds as habitat for dugongs, turtle nesting beaches, fish spawning aggregation sites, fishing sites, fishermen distribution sites and types of fishing gear used in order to develop a database for the Atauro Island waters. The database can be used as an input in establishing a marine protected area on Atauro Island, especially in zoning plan. The results of manta tow also need to be disseminated to the public as part of socialization and cross checking of public knowledge as

27 well as an early initiation to uniform perception of stakeholders (public, private sector and government) in the establishment of MPA. As a small island ecosystem where the mainland is very closely related to conditions of the ocean, the MPA management on Atauro Island is also expected to be able to manage some issues on the mainland such as trash and the impact of coastal development that integrated with ocean management as stated in the draft of ridge to reef (GEF, ND.; IUCN, 2013).

28 BIBLIOGRAPHY English, S., Wilkinson C. and Baker V. (1997). Survey Manual for Tropical Marine Resources. 2nd edition. Townsville, QLD.: Australian Institute of Marine Science. Edyvane K., de Carvalho N., Penny S., Fernandes A., de Cunha C.B., Amaral A.L., Mendes M., and Pinto P. (2009). Conservation Values, Issues and Planning in the Nino Konis Santana Marine Park, Timor Leste Final Report. Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries, Government of Timor Leste. Hill, J., Wilkinson, C. (2004). Methods for ecological monitoring of coral reefs. A resource for managers. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia. NCC CTI Timor Leste. (2012). State of the coral reefs of Timor Leste. Coral triangle marine resources: their status, economies, and management. National CTI Coordinating Committee of Timor Leste. IUCN. (2013). Ridge to reef. Retrieved 9 April 2014 from GEF. (N.D.). From ridge to reef. Water, environment, and community security. GEF action on transboundary water resources. Global Environment Facility.

29 APPENDIX Appendix 1. Photos of Manta Tow Activities on Atauro Island waters (photo: CTC)

30 Appendix 2. Photos of Coral Reefs on Atauro Island waters (photo: CTC)

31