Madang Lagoon on the north Coast of Papua New Guinea is an area approximately 15 km long and 4 km wide, and is considered one of the most biologically diverse marine sites in the Asian Pacific. Some 700 species of coral and over 1000 species of reef fishes live in the lagoon. The outer perimeter consists of a series of islands connected by coral reef. In a grade school in Madang, a town along the north coast of Papua New Guinea (PNG), school children learn that among the different fishing methods used within the lagoon, dynamite is one. This form of collecting fish, though illegal, has become so prevalent here that it has actually made its way into the education system! Fortunately, efforts are being made to stop dynamiting in Madang Lagoon, a 40-square kilometer body of water averaging 30–40 meters deep and spotted with numerous patch reefs and coral islands. The inner coastline contains several deep harbors and fringing reefs, while the seaward edge is bordered by a thin barrier reef that drops to 400 meters. In addition to fishing for both subsistence and income, residents throughout Madang Lagoon collect coconuts for copra marketing or are engaged in small business such as running boats, land transport or trade stores. Gardening of yam, banana, cassava, sweet potato, taro, pumpkin, corn and various greens for consumption or local sale is also popular. Vanilla farming has been newly introduced, but lack of agricultural extension services and unpredictable markets make profiting from this activity uncertain. Many youths take employment at the tuna processing plant just outside of Madang town. Other jobs include government or other formal positions in town. ABSTRACT. Systematic collections have revealed that the Madang Lagoon is a highly heterogeneous reef system which shows an unprecedented diversity of marine invertebrates (e.g., about 180 species of gammaridean Amphipoda). The characteristics of the Madang Lagoon, including its geological origin, physical geography, and physical and biological oceanography, are described and discussed. Traditional names are used for the reefs and islands of the lagoon. An appendix includes a list of all current collecting localities for the Madang Lagoon amphipod project. Coordinates for these collecting localities have been determined using a global positioning device. Our usual dive program consists of 2 morning dives and an afternoon dive. Dive sites are selected on the day based on weather and current conditions. We aim to offer the best site for that day, given the prevailing conditions. Diving is operated by our dive shop at Jais Aben Resort. All bookings are made through reception at the main desk.
Tamlong Tabb lives in Siar Village , located along the inner coast of the lagoon. He is so concerned about dynamiting that he has written several letters to the Member of Parliament in Madang town requesting that something be done to stop it. His clan is the traditional owner of Tab Island , situated four kilometers offshore. The waters around Tab Island are biologically significant in terms of fish stock replenishment; year-round spawning supplies both northern and southern regions of Madang Lagoon as surface currents seasonally reverse direction. After hearing about the protected area at nearby Sinub Island set up a few years earlier, Tamlong’s clan decided to declare Tab a Wildlife Management Area (WMA), which is legally recognized under PNG’s Fauna (Protection and Control) Act of 1966. Tamlong is Chairman of the Tab WMA management committee. Declared in 2000, Tab WMA has different zones for specific usage, including nursery and total no-take areas, as well as gear restrictions (e.g., only hook and line or spears allowed). Visitors may use the site for scuba diving and picnicking for a small fee of 10 Kina (approximately US$3) per person. Management Act of 1998, under which any fisheries officer may arrest persons believed to be in violation. The penalty is a fine of K1,000 (roughly US$300), or imprisonment if the fine cannot be paid. However, punishment is uncertain. Recently, three people were caught using dynamite and their names reported to the police. Neither fine nor sentence, if any, has yet to be levied. The village councilor reported the matter to both the Provincial Fisheries Office and the police. The police claimed they did not take action because there was a fuel shortage at that time, and the fisheries office did not respond at all. Tamlong would like more involvement from the fisheries department in enforcing dynamiting laws and keeping commercial boats out of traditional fishing grounds, which extend three nautical miles out from the high water mark. Lack of coordination in collecting diver fees is another issue. In theory, dive operators collect the money from tourists, and then hand it over to the Tab WMA management committee monthly. "Last month they gave the money to the wrong person," Tamlong remorses. "They didn't ask for identification or anything." How much money is in the Tab WMA account? "We don't have one; we need to establish an account so that dive fees go directly into it and can be used for enhancements of the WMA." The Tuna processing plant on the mainland poses an additional threat to Madang Lagoon. Pollution coming from the plant's wastewater is believed to be the cause for a proliferation of algae on the reefs and a corresponding increase in herbivorous fishes. The non-profit organizations World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Wetlands International-Oceania (WI) have been doing water quality monitoring in the lagoon over the past year, the results of which will be published soon. WWF is also helping the S iar community with water quality monitoring, the samples from which are tested at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology. Additionally, proposed fish pen activities could also contribute to deterioration of water quality in the lagoon. Land-owning clans have agreed not to set up fish pens until a management plan for the entire lagoon is drawn up. However, a new fish pen on floaters has recently been installed at Siar Island to raise Barramundi fish, a project initiated by the European Union Coastal Rural Fisheries Development Project, which gave loans to the communities to implement the project. At the moment, there are no fish in the nets; it remains to be seen what the outcome of fish pen activities will be.
Madang, on PNG's north coast, has the reputation of being one of the most ecologically diverse reef systems in the world. Within this tiny area exists an abundance of reef marine life such as anemones, ghost pipefish, feather stars, mandarin fish, barrel sponges and gorgonian fans to name but a few. It contains up to 1000 fish species, 800 hard and soft corals, 400 nudibranchs and 9 species of anemones. With its reef-fringed lowlands and excellent year round visibility, the area is a highly popular location for both novice and serious divers. Aside from the many sunken ships and WW2 aircraft wrecks which attract a lot of attention, reef and pelagic fish are plentiful. Among the hundreds of species of fish are game fish like tuna, mackerel, barracuda, marlin, yellow fin and wahoo, all a very short range from shore. Volcanic islands and magnificent rugged mountain backdrops make for a magnificent setting from any vantage point. Madang lagoon is an area approximately 15km long and 4km wide, starting from Madang town at the south extreme and stretching to Alexishafen in the north, with the most eastern point being Pig (Tab) island. The outer perimeter of the lagoon consists of a series of islands connected by coral reef. This forms a mini barrier reef of steep walls with each dive site having a variety of coral structures. At several places the outer reef has breaks or passages, allowing for greater water flow on incoming tides and thus an increase in schooling fish life. Within the lagoon are sheltered wrecks and patch reefs which being shallower, allow for more bottom time to appreciate a variety of smaller fish life, shrimp and nudibranchs. Our dive sites are close which means minimal time in boats and plenty of time for diving. Our water is warm, averaging 28 C for most of the year. As the dive shop is located right on the water's edge there is no lugging of heavy dive gear and our house reef means you can shore dive whenever you like.
