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Aseanarean Expedition Series Heads to
Indonesia National Geographic Onboard! |
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By Jonathan Webster & Pat Seward
Francis Lee, President of Raffles Marina, announced today the
detailed plans for the launching of the second in-depth Aseanarean
Expedition Series - 'Marine Parks of Indonesia'. Following the
tremendous success of the first Expedition Series and the publication
of 'Marine Parks of Thailand',  the
second Aseanarean Expedition Series throughout Indonesia will
commence this coming September and wrap up early next year.
The Indonesian Expedition Series, which will cover more than
5,000nm off the beaten path throughout the world's largest archipelago,
seeks - like all of the Expedition Series and the 'Marine Parks'
book series - to promote marine conservation and awareness through
the documentation of the state of the reefs, the marine parks
and the overall marine environment throughout Aseanarean.
On board for this Expedition Series is National Geographic Television
via National Geographic Channel Asia. The company, a key arm
of the 111-year old world famous National Geographic Society,
has only recently entered the Asian market and this series of
3 documentaries plus multiple educational spin-offs will be
the first documentary to be commissioned by NGCA since it's
inception in Asia last July. "This is a regional effort with
global significance" emphasized Deborah Armstrong, VP of Marketing
for Asia. "We are committed to this conservation effort and
recognize the need to document and map Aseanarean. The health
of its reefs is critical to the planet's survival. As coral
reefs are indicators of other biospheres, its importance can
not be over-emphasized. The results of this project will provide
the global scientific community valuable information on previously
uncharted coral reefs. Through great programming we hope to
educate viewers about the expedition's mission, to promote awareness
- and change," added Miss Armstrong.
 Also
on board for the massive expedition is the world renowned and
globally respected Planetary Coral Reef Foundation and their
unique research vessel Heraclitus, a traditionally shaped Ferro-cement
Chinese sailing junk. The crew of Heraclitus will, along with
the Expedition's other participants, be charting a 'living map'
of the reefs in Indonesia and throughout Aseanarean as a whole
to develop a global database for further research and study.
Heraclitus will be accompanied by 4 other vessels throughout
the Indonesian Expedition Series, including the Indonesian Navy's
Tall Ship Kri Arung Samudera, the big Nordhaven Feeling, Agape
and Francis Lee's own Leeway II. The vessels will travel in
flotilla and will also be accompanied and supported by Indonesian
Navy escorts.
Did you know...
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Corals are animals - not plants - and are made up of
thousands of polyps. |
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Aseanarean has more than 2,500 documented species of
marine fishes. The Caribbean boasts less than 600. * Indonesia
is home to more than 17% of the world's flora and fauna. |
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The world's oceans and seas cover more than 71% of
the Earth's surface. |
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Aseanarean is blessed with the highest marine biodiversity
in the world - surpassing the Mediterranean and Caribbean
combined. |
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Aseanarean waters boast 30% of the world's coral reefs. |
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Asean countries have a combined coastline of over 92,500
kilometers. |
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A new midwater net is large enough to scoop up a football
field lengthwise with 60 feet to spare. The opening is
180 feet high and it has caught up to 286,000 pounds of
fish in one haul. |
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The average distance traveled by albacore tuna per
year is 10,000 miles. |
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The annual commercial value of tunas worldwide is $6.7
billion. |
| The above information was provided courtesy of Raffles
Marina and the International Game Fish Association, the
latter being one of the world's leading marine and fisheries
conservation and documentation organizations. |
| Aseanarean Expedition Series and Marine
Parks of Indonesia FAQs |
What's the Aseanarean Expedition Series and Marine
Parks of Indonesia?
The AES is a series of marine exhibitions to Asean countries
to explore their natural marine heritage and to further
discover their marine parks, with the sole objective of
promoting greater public awareness - and acceptance -
of marine conservation issues and initiatives. The MPOI
is the 2nd such project under the Aseanarean Expedition
Series and will cover approximately 5,000nm from start
to finish.
Who is behind Marine Parks of Indonesia?
Undertaken jointly by the three authors, with the support
of Raffles Marina, the expedition is made up entirely
of volunteer conservationists, scientists, boaters, divers
and photographers. The Indonesian authorities, particularly
the Ministry of Tourism and the Navy, are supporting the
project and many local resorts, marinas and individuals
are hosting and assisting with the project along the way.
What is the Objective of the Expedition?
The project is strictly a not-for-profit venture and is
solely intended to promote marine conservation - both
throughout Indonesia and throughout Aseanarean as a whole;
with many exciting spin offs for marine and eco tourism
along the way. It is also intended to showcase the rich
biodiversity of the region and how it not only stacks
up to, but surpasses, both the Mediterranean and the Caribbean
in terms of this biodiversity.
What does the Expedition Hope to Achieve?
It will produce the Marine Parks of Indonesia book, which,
like Marine Parks of Thailand, will be published by SNP
in Singapore and distributed region wide. The expedition
also intends to explore at least 5 other Asean countries
with substantial marine resources, and this expedition
will be a good test for the team's ability to complete
the series.
What is National Geographic's Involvement?
National Geographic Channel Asia will commission a series
of film documentaries on the expedition for screening
on prime time Asia and worldwide. This will be the first
Asian expedition to be covered by the NGCA since its launch
last July. The project is also poised to go multimedia
, both as home videos and as CD-Roms to promote marine
conservation to more homes and schools in the region.
How Can I be Involved?
Good question. While the core of the team is in place,
the leaders are always looking for individuals and organisations
that can lend support. If you are involved in the marine
industry and think you can lend support to the program
in some capacity give Expedition Leader Francis Lee a
call at Raffles Marina. Likewise, any marine biologists
and marine tourism experts wishing to become involved
should also contact Francis. There may be room... Francis
Lee, Raffles Marina, Tel. (65) 861 8000.
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What is Aseanarean?
The name Aseanarean was first coined by Francis Lee, a
noted marine conservationist, who, together with eminent
Singapore marine biologist Professor Chou Loke Ming and
English writer, Pat Seward, are spearheading this non-profit
expedition. Aseanarean refers to the seas surrounding
the ten countries in the region and covers an oval-shaped
body of water of about 5-million sq. km. It derives from
the word Asean (Association of South East Asian Nations)
+ the word area + n for nautical. Hence Aseanarean, similar
in sound to both Mediterranean and Caribbean. |
| Francis Lee Expedition Leader Aseanarean
Expedition Series |
 Francis
Lee, the Expedition Leader and Co-author of this project,
is the President of Singapore's Raffles Marina and the
Chairman of the Singapore Reef and Marine Conservation
Committee. He has long been associated with sea sports
development and marine conservation initiatives in Singapore
and throughout Asean.
In 1997 Francis coined the name Aseanarean to describe
this region from a marine perspective and to elevate it
to the ranks of the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. He
conceived the idea of the Aseanarean Expedition Series
to highlight the marine parks of the Asean countries,
and to showcase the efforts of Asean states in conserving
the home of the world's highest marine biodiversity, right
on their doorsteps. He also serves as Chairman of the
Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore Growth Triangle Tourism Committee
and is active in promoting marine and eco tourism.
In 1998 he published his first book, the 'Marine Parks
of Thailand' with Professor Chou Loke Ming and Mrs. Pat
Seward. He is now ready to embark upon his second publication
on the Marine Parks of Indonesia. |
| The Anambas Expedition
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By Pat Seward, co-author 'Marine Parks of Thailand'
At 10.30am on Saturday 17 October 1998 three boats slipped
quietly out of Raffles Marina en route to Nongsa Point
Marina on Indonesia's Batam Island. Nothing special about
such a departure - it is a regular occurrence - but this
particular exodus was no mere weekend jaunt to escape
the pressures of Singapore life. On this occasion Leeway
II, Lady Olivia and Lucky Lady were carrying members of
the team that researched and produced Marine Parks of
Thailand, the first volume in a series of books to highlight
the rich marine resources of the Asean countries and promote
their marine parks. After port and immigration clearance
at Nongsa Point, the tiny convoy set sail for the Anambas
Islands to begin the fieldwork for Volume Two of the Aseanarean
Expeditions Series - Marine Parks of Indonesia.
The Anambas Archipelago lies in the South China Sea approximately
130 nautical miles northeast of the eastern entrance of
the Singapore Strait. The islands are around 225 nautical
miles from Singapore and at moderate speeds can be reached
in about 24 hours from the Indonesian landfall at Nongsa
Point Marina.
The research team on the three boats comprised Raffles
Marina's visionary President, Francis Lee, co-author Pat
Seward who had flown in from the United States a couple
of days earlier, and marine biologists, Jeffrey Low and
Karenne Tun, both veterans of the Thailand fieldwork expeditions.
Also on board, and participating in this major conservation
project for the first time, were a number of enthusiasts
willing and able to give generously in terms of resources
and expertise: Convoy Leader Steven Lek led the way on
his ocean-going yacht Lucky Lady; Tina Lee, Liaison Officer
for the Indonesian expeditions sailed on Leeway II; Stephen
Lau on Lady Olivia had come to assist with the photography;
and Hoon Theng Yim, better known to Raffles Marina staff
as canteen chef 'Mr Ang', came along to feed the hungry
researchers. An army, as they say, marches on its stomach!
 The
small convoy motored steadily northeast under calm skies
and by Sunday morning was passing the southernmost Anambas
islands. By mid-morning the boats had tied up at their
Anambas base at Tanjung Tebu near Tarempah on Siantan
Island. Tarempah is the most extensive and important village
in the Anambas and Siantan is the largest island in the
archipelago. The four islands, Siantan, Matak, Mubur and
Bajau, make up the major part of the northeastern Anambas
group which also includes all the smaller islands north
and east of Siantan. A second group, away to the southwest,
clusters round Jemaja Island and includes another Mubur
Island, Airabu, Telaga, Impul and Temiang as well as a
number of smaller islets.
The Anambas Islands are not a marine park but moves are
afoot to designate various parts of the greater Riau Archipelago
as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) of some kind, there being
various categories depending on the degree of protection
and the uses to which the areas are put. A number of possible
candidates for MPA status near Batam and Bintang Islands
have already been officially surveyed for this reason
and, in recent months, many voices have been raised urging
some protection for the Anambas Islands. The purpose of
the first of the Aseanarean Expeditions into Indonesian
waters was to take a look at two areas in the Anambas
which, it has been suggested, are in need of protection
and are potential marine park sites.
 Two
areas are of particular interest; both located in the
northeast Anambas group. The larger of the two encompasses
much of the water and many of the islands that stretch
in a curve south and east along the coasts of Matak, Siantan
and Bajau Islands. The smaller sector focuses on the handful
of islands - Tenggiling, Ucing, Dut, Langor, and possibly
Noran - located off the northeastern tip of Mubur Island
on the west side of Matak Bay. Marine resources aside,
what makes these areas attractive for protection as a
marine park is the existence of an airstrip on Matak Island,
which could, conceivably, be developed for tourist traffic.
Another important factor is the presence of a simple but
more than adequate resort at Tanjung Tebu, and the availability
there of fuel and water. Last, but by no means least,
is the proximity of bustling Tarempah with its supplies
and facilities.
Relative isolation from busy shipping lanes and distance
from Malaysia, the closest large landmass, has protected
the Anambas from the worst effects of pollution and exploitation.
Nevertheless the islands have been, and continue to be
damaged in a variety of ways although they still rise
out of a sparkling tropical sea like the legendary desert
island paradise. All the islands are extremely hilly,
if not mountainous, with Siantan rising to 565 metres
and Jemaja to 466 metres. Most are densely wooded. A few
are inhabited and partially cultivated, most notably with
coconut palms but also with clove orchards. Here and there
a gleam of gold signals a narrow beach, and wooden huts
built on stilts above the water - the fishing kelongs
of the local people - betray a livelihood still based
primarily on what the sea can provide.
At Tanjung Tebu the arrival of David Loh, another expedition
newcomer, as well as three old hands, Wong Swee Yin, expedition
artist and illustrator, Mok Kah Mun the Senior Liaison
Officer, and Johnny Lim from Raffles Marina, once again
serving as Technical and Safety Officer, augmented the
team numbers. David generously made his motor yacht Feeling
available for the expedition. Other newcomers accompanying
David were Raffles Marina skipper, Steven Leong and yacht
dealer, Goh Kong Wee, who had been co-opted as a second
Technical and Safety Officer. Another invaluable member
who joined in Indonesia was yachtsman and artist, Sam
Fadlil, who had participated in some of the Thai expeditions
as an observer and was now acting as Expedition Consultant
and Guide for the field trips in his native waters.
Over the two weeks of the expedition the team cruised
the reef-strewn shallow waters and narrow channels dotted
with small islets fringed with coral. They dived, snorkelled,
photographed, took notes and built up, little by little,
a picture of the health or otherwise of the Anambas reefs.
Visits were made to Egeria Rock, a lonely coral head two
miles east of Akar Island as well as to the patches of
coral around Esperance Reef where waves break over a sandbank
that barely rises above sea level.
 On
land, team members explored Tarempah, often making the
journey there and back in the brightly painted pong pongs,
the workhorses of the Anambas, which are named for their
throbbing engines. Another excursion took in the fish
farming communities located in Matak Island's Niulman
Bay. A hardy few attempted the climb alongside the waterfall
above Siantan's Pemurun Village. This tortuous path rises
between hillsides planted haphazardly with pineapple,
coconut, and papaya before passing through dripping, secondary
jungle as it nears a series of rock basins where swimming
is possible. The villagers tap the roaring waterfall for
fresh water, 'piping' it down hill in bamboo poles split
in half lengthways and supported on forked sticks.
For the greater part of the expedition, work concentrated
on the areas that might one day be recommended for protection
and development as a park. Time was found, however, on
the return leg to Singapore, to visit the Anambas' southwestern
islands. This proved a worthwhile detour with Jemaja appearing
to be less heavily populated than Siantan, its counterpart
in the northeastern group. Passing ships were infrequent
and the area had a remote feeling that must once have
been characteristic of the Anambas as a whole. |
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