Did you know that Bali is home to some of the most abundant marine ecosystems in the world? The waters off Nusa Penida are given the same level of protected status as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
Marine and maritime tourism is big business in Bali, as is the fishing industry, which is why leaders have come together to introduce new measures to protect the ocean around South Bali.
South Bali is home to the highest concentration of tourist resorts in the province. Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Canggu, Jimbaran, Uluwatu, Nusa Dua, and Sanur all fall along the southern coast.
It is this area of Bali, and the surrounding waters, that attract millions of tourists every year.
From swimming in the sea to surfing, from snorkelling to boat trips, through to scuba diving, the sea is life in Bali.
It has been announced this week that the Bali Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Service (KP) is working on a study to make the sea in South Bali a conservation area.
Putu Sumardiana, Head of the Bali Marine and Fisheries Agency, spoke to the media as part of the opening of the 2026 World Ocean Day and Coral Triangle Day commemoration on Peninsula Island in Nusa Dua.
Sumardiana explained that, based on current mapping, the conservation area in South Bali covers 55,000 hectares of the island’s coastline.
The proposed new expansion would complement Bali’s marine conservation area target of 102,000 hectares across the province, but currently, only 44,000 hectares are covered in the conservation areas of Nusa Penida, Buleleng, Karangasem, Jembrana, and Benoa Bay.
More needs to be done, and quickly. The Bali Marine and Fisheries Agency has spoken of the importance of preserving the marine biodiversity across the southern Bali coast, including in areas such as Jembrana Regency, which is a prime turtle conservation area, and, of course, Nusa Penida, which is home to the mola-mola and manta rays.
Sumardiana told reporters that to help maintain the tourism activities in what will soon become the new conservation area, the protected ecosystem will be divided into zones.
These zones include limited-use zones and core zones, each with its own set of regulations governing marine tourism activities.
He noted, “Once it’s established, we have the authority. All recreational, tourism, and sports activities will require an entrance ticket, just like in Nusa Penida. We’re working on it. If it hasn’t been determined yet, the study documents will be prepared after the central government approves the allocation of space.”
Sumardiana noted that the biggest obstacle to getting the project over the line is budgeting. He highlighted how compiling a conservation area study requires a lot of expert involvement and financial support.
He confirmed that the Bali Provincial Government is targeting the study to be completed by 2027. Based on Regional Regulation Number 2 of 2023 concerning the Bali Spatial Plan 2023-2043, the area of Bali’s sea area reaches approximately 9,154 square kilometers, while the land area is 5,636.66 square kilometers.
As part of World Ocean Day and Golden Triangle Day 2026, a series of special events were hosted at Peninsula Island in The Nusa Dua over the weekend. The Nusa Dua General Manager, I Made Agus Dwiatmika, said that his party was honored to be trusted to host the 2026 World Ocean Day and Coral Triangle Day.
He told reporters, “This activity demonstrates that marine conservation efforts require cross-sector collaboration, including the tourism sector.”
“As a region that grows and develops alongside the coastal environment, The Nusa Dua has a responsibility to continue promoting sustainable destination management practices and supporting various initiatives that have a positive impact on the environment and the community.”
He added, “We invite the entire community to learn more about the ocean, understand its role in life, and participate in its conservation efforts. Protecting the ocean is not only an environmental agenda, but also an investment in the future of tourism, the economy, and future generations.”
World Ocean Day themed events will be happening throughout Bali this week, although in Bali, every day is a day to step up and help play an active role in protecting the oceans, no matter how small the action.
Tourists in Bali can help protect the precious marine ecosystems by opting for boat tour and marine tour providers who commit to sustainable and ethical practices.
Tourists can commit to the ‘leave no trace’ approach to everything they visit the beach, making sure they leave behind no trash or debris.
Tourists who want to learn more about marine conservation and sustainability initiatives in Bali can check out the Coral Triangle Center and BioRock Indonesia.
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