Infrastructure and Education takes time, and as mentioned, time is not on our side, whatever the cause, the reality is that something must be done now to try and stem the tide of rubbish, that will, sooner or later effect us all in Bunaken National Marine Park.
Again we have not "invented the wheel" with this idea, but instead we have taken the idea from Singapore where the system is in place for some years now.
Its all rather simple really, a barge type catamaran, as in the picture, is driven to where the rubbish accumulates (normally following currents) and scoops it up in a stainless steel mesh bucket, once full the bucket is tilted back and up to allow the crew to empty it into a container, then the bucket is lowered again and the job continues. Its the simple things that work...
The boat crew can then seperate the garbage, with logs, coconuts, etc being discarded back to sea (these do have a function), pet bottles and other recyclables kept to one side, the rest baged.
The boats will reutrn to a "coordinating center" in the afternoon to deliver their load, here a member of staff will take the bags of garbage, storing the recyclables and burning the rest in an incinarator.
It is hoped that by the mid 2007 three boats will be in operation around Bunaken National Marine Park, it is also hoped that the Scuba Diving Operators in the area will help identify "hot spots" via telephone or VHF while they are travelling around the park with their guests.
The crusade goes on............
