Potential of Ornamental Stony Corals in Kendari Waters, Southeast Sulawesi

Abstract

The utilization of ornamental corals in Indonesia is quite high because Indonesia is the biggest coral exporting country in the world. The high level of ornamental coral uptake in the wild so far has been big attention to the government as the contribution at reducing coral population, worsen the status of coral that is already in 35% poor condition. The research to determine the status of wild ornamental corals in the waters of Kendari carried out at nine locations. It aimed at determining the existence of ornamental corals in nature along with habitat conditions through the composition and diversity of ornamental coral parameters. The results showed the potential use of ornamental corals grouped by genera, namely as many as two genera (Porites and Fungia) included in the common group, as many as eight genera in uncommon, 18 genera in rare, and 31 genera in very rare. The location of habitat has live coral cover from 8.67% - 55.17% including very poor to the good condition because some locations found high rubble and sand. Based on calculations, corals that can be utilized are grouped in the common category (genera Fungia and Porites), while the genera Acropora, Montipora, Pavona, Pectinia, Euphyllia, Favia, Galaxea, Seriatopora belong to the uncommon group, which means limited use. Rare groups are very limited in their use and very rare are prohibited from being used.

Keywords

• potential uses
• ornamental corals
• kendari