Mata Biru

Manado and Bunaken National Marine Park has become almost a household name for many divers all over the world, the destination is featured on a regular basis in many Diving Magazines from Italy to Australia, its wonders continue to astound both diver and snorkeller alike and yet the decade long problem still seems not to be addressed with sufficient tenacity to ensure that far from "falling from its newly found crest" Manado and Bunaken Park can actual increase its popularity in a sustainable and eco friendly manner.
While every effort is made to ensure that there are no illegal activities within the boundaries of the Park, that bomb fishing is a thing of the past and that cyanide fishing is socially unacceptable.
The "buzz" word at the moment is GARBAGE, though it has taken time (8 years that I know of), it seems that finally Manado City wishes to tackle this "scourge". Since August there seems to be a real willingness to get Manado into "shipshape", gone are the hawkers that were everywhere and with them the mountains of garbage that they left behind every evening, it seems also that a new local law will indeed sanction anybody found littering and/or disposing of garbage in an unacceptable manner......Wow could this be really the turning tide, could Manado Town really become the prettiest Town in Indonesia, after all it did hold this admirable position for two whole years back in the '70s.
The question now is whether or not they (Manado City) will remember that Manado has been "put on the map" not for Manado Town itself but for the wonders that it has on its door step....Bunaken National Marine Park, and the begging question is whether they will dedicate any effort to curb "floating garbage" within the Park.